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BHIGADIKR GENERAL JAMES H WILSON, 

United States Army, 

Major General U. S. Volunteers 1865-6 and 1898. 



THE ! 



i A iV 




THE LAST CAMPAIGN 



A CAVALRYMAN'S JOURNAL. 



E. N. OILRIN 

Third Iowa Cavalry. 



Reprint from the Journal of the U. S. Cavalry Association. 






PRESS OF KETCHESON PRINTING CO. 
LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS. 



JUN 2 1908 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN — A CAVALRYMAN'S 
JOURNAL.* 



To the memory of the old cavalrymen who wore the 
blue and the gray, this little narrative is dedicated. 

THREE divisions of the Cavalry Corps have come by way 
of Memphis, Nashville and Chattanooga, and are en- 
camped along the mountain side from Waterloo to Gravelly 
Springs, Alabama, in the extreme northwest corner of the 
State. The forces of mounted men, widely separated in the 
West and South, have been concentrated here, and are now 
well in hand — an army of cavalry. 

General James H. Wilson is in command. He is one of 
Grant's trusted generals, who intends a swift saber-thrust 
at the heart of the Confederacy. When, where, and in what 
force we are to move, Dick Taylor and our old friend For- 
rest (who our scouts report just below here with his cav- 
alry) would give a good deal to know. 

It is ten miles to Chickasaw Landing on the Tennessee 
River, from where our trains bring rations and forage. The 
heavy spring rains have made it difficult to haul supplies, 
for the streams are bank full, the low lands overflowed, and 
the swamps almost impassable. The question of forage is a 
serious one. 

While marching orders are delayed, we are getting 
acquainted. 

General Upton, commanding the Fourth Division of the 
Cavalry Corps, has just been ordered here from the Army of 



*By E. N. Gilpin, Third Iowa Cavalry, a clerk at General Upton's head- 
quarters during the campaign described. 



618 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 



the Potomac ; limps slightly from wounds received in the 
battle of Winchester, where he was brevetted major general 
for gallantry. At Gettysburg he commanded a brigade, at 
Spottsylvania a division of infantry and artillery. He has 
his spurs to win as a cavalry officer. He is a young man to 
be a general, not yet twenty-six. He is slightly above 
medium stature, keen-eyed, and carries himself as a soldier. 
His voice is low, usually, and rather pleasant to hear ; speaks 
quickly when excited ; when he gets angry he is quick as a 




Brevet Major General, Emory Upton, U. S. Army. 
Colonel 4th U. S. Artillery, July 1,1880; Died March 15,1881. 



flash, and the man he is talking to thinks a revolver is going 
off at him. He is in dead earnest, one can see that; has 
military books in his tent and studies them when he comes 
in from studying his regiments. He rides a tall, long-bodied 
bay horse, that makes him look smaller than he really is. 
He says his prayers every night, which is a novelty. Al- 
though he is a strict disciplinarian, making the division 
drill, rain or shine, dismounted and with saber, I do not 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 619 

hear any grumbling. Every now and then he puts them 
through some new evolution that pleases them. They are 
all veteran soldiers, he a new commander, and they are 
sizing him up. He has made a good impression on his di- 
vision.* 

March 1 1, i<S6j. To-day General Wilson is reviewing the 
Second Division (General Long). It is considered the finest 
body of mounted men in the army. I have seen cavalry be- 
fore, but never any that pleased me so well. The day was 
fair ; a fine band on white horses played military music 
through all the evolutions. Every movement was executed 
with precision, and it seemed as though the music was timed 
to the cavalry hoof-beats. General Long's horse keeping step 
with the marching battalions as though he knew he led 
Thomas's veterans. The review, while being spirited in one 
way, must have appeared tame enough m another, there be- 
ing no ladies present of high or low degree, no newspaper 
correspondent, and so far as I know not a member of Con- 
gress within a hundred miles. 

It beat our review all to pieces, and General Upton says 
we shall have another some day. Is confident, however, that 
put the divisions side by side in action, the Fourth will carry 
any place the Second undertakes. General McCook's First 
Division, not yet fully equipped, is encamped farthest from 
us ; we have not been thrown together in drill or review, 
and will have to become acquainted in the field. The other 
divisions of the corps, Third, Sixth and Seventh, are getting 
ready for duty elsewhere. What plans are designed for 
them are known only to Thomas and Sherman. They may 
be sent as flying columns west and south to distract the 
enemy. If General Wilson knows, he gives no intimation. 

To-day I rode over to the camp of the Third Iowa Cav- 
alry, part of the way with Colonel Noble, who commands the 
regiment. He says they are in splendid shape, and will give 
a good account of themselves. All are anxious to march, 
and will welcome the activity of the campaign. Our sick are 
sent off to Cairo. Lieutenant Dufheld had to go, leaving 



*General Wilson once wrote of General Upton as follows: "He was the 
best soldier, bar none, produced on either side during the Civil War." — Editor 



620 THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 

Lieutenant Newton Battin in command of my old company, 
"E," Third Iowa Cavalry. 

Tom Brenton, orderly sergeant, is away, getting well, 
though shot through the lungs ; big, burly, six feet of solid 
flesh and bone, and a big heart to fit, it is hard to think of 
him off duty. He taught me how to roll my blankets, and 
he threw my McClellan saddle on when I came to the com- 
pany "a new recruity," with "Boy, what are you doing here, 
with mother's milk hardly dry on your lips? " I can see him 
now, his foot resting on the hub of a disabled caisson, after 
our last fight, writing the names of the killed and wounded, 
and asking us as we came around if we could tell anything 
of the fellows who were missing. I fear it will be a long 
time till I hear his voice again calling the roll. 

Mike Worley, "Pap" we call him, is a happy man. He 
was ordered to the invalid corps, with other crippled old 
raiders, and wrote an appeal to the President. He has just 
got a letter saying, "Stay with your company," signed A, 
Lincoln. He steps around in such a proud way you can play 
marbles on his coat tails. 

When I came back to headquarters I read a letter from 
General Grierson to General Wilson : " The Third and 
Fourth Iowa and Tenth Missouri Cavalry have been sent to 
your corps ; they are splendid troops, the best in my divi- 
sion." General Winslow is to command them, and George 
B. Rodney, who won laurels at Chickamauga with his battery 
of the Fourth U. S. Artillery, is assigned to the brigade. 

I was with Grierson on his famous raid through Mississ- 
ippi, and remember him as he sat his horse at the cross-roads 
below Tupelo, with eyes half closed as though he were lost ; 
but if you looked closer into them you would see he was not 
lost by any manner of means. Nor was Captain John Brown, 
of "L" Company, in his desperate charge through the Confed- 
erate lines that day, although cut off from his command and 
surrounded. We all know what he said: "Stick to your 
saddle, men, and if I fall, ride over me !" It is that sort of 
stuff this division is made up of, and if General AVilson knows 
how to handle cavalry, he can ride over anything in the Con- 
federacy. 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 621 

The General Order governing our march issued to-day, 
and is very strict. Every trooper carries five days' rations 
of sugar, salt, coffee, hard-tack, an extra pair of horseshoes, 
and one hundred rounds of ammunition. The pack train 
will keep up with the column, leaving the supply train of 
250 wagons to follow along as it can. As the wagons are 
emptied, they will be sent back. One of our generals said 
he would rather lose twenty men than one mule ; the pack 
animals must not fall too far in the rear. Major Hubbard,, 
with a battalion, has charge of the pontoon train of thirty 
boats — fifty-six six-mule teams — an awful load; but if the 
Confederates burn bridges, we cannot cross without it. 

The Fourth Regular band came over and serenaded us 
to-night. We often hear beautiful music from headquarters 
bands. It looks strange to see an army of 25,000 encamped, 
and see no long lines of infantry white tents, and hear no 
beat of drums. 

Out riding and sightseeing after writing the day's orders. 
We are arranging to break camp to-morrow. All are be- 
ginning to tire of camp life. We are ordered to subsist on 
the country, and it will be our fault if we do not have plenty 
to eat. 

March ijth. It has been raining all day, a steady down- 
pour. We will have a bad time starting on the march. The 
Tennessee River is very high and steadily rising. General 
Wilson and Major Beaumont, his adjutant general, came 
over; they are afraid the creeks will be too high to ford to- 
morrow, and are getting a little uneasy. 

March i6th. Chickasaw, Alabama. Morning cold j.nd 
cloudy; an occasional gust from the northward — a d'^cidedly 
wintry day. Broke camp early and took up our march over 
the hills for Chickasaw, General Upton and his staff ' officers 
riding together at the head of the division. The General, 
stern as fate, sitting hard in the saddle, his mouth tightly 
closed, his eye keen as a hawk's; Latta, his stout adjutant 
general, with glasses on, suave, undemonstrative, a Pennsyl- 
vanian, just assigned to duty here among Westerners; Cap- 
tain Gilpin, aide-de-camp, lithe, alert, riding at the General's 
side, waiting instructions as to the crossing at Chickasaw ; 



622 THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 

the two brothers Keck, aide-de-camp and ordnance officer, 
medium size, black haired, self- poised; you can read nothing 
in either face but readiness for duty; and Surgeon Carter, 
much the elder of the others, sedate, with smooth-shaven 
face ; something in his manner that does not invite confi- 
dence, though a very skillful surgeon. A soldier does not 
like a chaplain or a surgeon for reasons of his own. Leav- 
ing Captain Gilpin at the river to superintend the crossing 
of the command on " Westmoreland Ferry'' and on barges, we 
marched on. 

Fording Bluff Creek, " Charley " and I nearly went under ; 
my boots full of water — rather uncomfortable riding. In 
the afternoon the sun shown out from a cloud, while across 
the valley the snow falling in long level lines against the 
dark pines, made a picture not soon to be forgotten. 

Came to camp among other divisions of our corps, with- 
out rations or forage ; made my bed under a melodious old 
pine tree, and concluded I would have a comfortable time of 
it; but the troops were passing all night, and the wind 
began blowing cold, and the frost nipped through my 
blankets. 

Our pioneers are at work corduroying the road, and to- 
morrow we will have plenty for ourselves and horses. 

March lyth. Our forage train found us away in among 
the pines on a mountain side, two miles from Chickasaw. 
We have a fine camp, both for comfort and beauty. Our 
headquarters are located in the center of the division, on a 
high ridge overlooking the First and Second Divisions. 
General Winslow's brigade headquarters are about fifty 
yards distant on another hill across a little valley ; General 
Alexander's headquarters of the Second Brigade westward 
about the same distance. Across on the next mountain 
eastward, General Long, Second Division, is encamped ; and 
to the left of them. General McCook's First Division. 
Army headquarters are down toward the river, the center of 
the circle. 

When the pine knot camp fires are burning brightly at 
night, we have a most beautiful sight. General Wilson 
has sent this message to General Grant : " Three of the 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 623 

divisions are mounted. The First. Second and Fourth are 
in just as fine condition as it is possible for cavalry to be in. 
I have reviewed Long and Upton, and I am sure they can- 
not be excelled in -our army or anywhere else. With Hatch 
in as good fix, we cannot be whipped." 

March iSth. Chickasaw, Alabama. The wind has been 
blowing a little all day, making music for us in the pine 
trees. Down in the valley a beautiful mountain stream, 
clear and cold, runs swiftly over the rocks, dashing and 
eddying hither and thither, merrily chasing its bubbles off 
to the river. Plenty of water for our cooking purposes, 
good forage and rations, and the Sanitary Commission has 
visited us in the shape of cabbage and potatoes and kraut. 
They also sent us compressed cakes which Lun. our mess 
cook, calls "desecrated vegetables." We have boiled, baked, 
fried, stewed, pickled, sweetened, salted it, and tried it in 
puddings, cakes and pies; but it sets all modes of cooking 
at defiance, so the boys break it up and smoke it in their 
pipes ! They say the Dutch of the "Fourt' Missouri" know 
how to cook it, but we are too proud to learn. 

We are making arrangements to break camp to-morrow. 
When we cut loose from our base of supplies here on the 
Tennessee River, we will have to find a new base some- 
where. It is 190 miles to Selma, as the crow flies, but we 
will have to march about 250, the first 100 through a rough, 
semi-mountainous country, stripped of forage. After that 
we will enter a fertile region, the garden spot of the Sunny 
South. 

Operations and line of march are pretty well outlined as 
far as Selma; after that we may form a junction with Canby 
at Mobile, or strike the east coast to join Sherman. If 
whipped, we will get out the best way we can. I am glad 
that General Winslow is with us, in command of his old 
brigade. He got us out of a tight place once. None of us 
are likely to forget that, and he may have to do it again. 
Forrest is a dangerous foe, quick, daring, resourceful, and 
whoever tackles him will find his hands full. General Wil- 
son has the confidence of the command. His orders are 



624 • THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 

« 
clear cut. On the march his headquarters will be with the 

center column. 

We are to march at daylight. My horse "Charley," a 
dappled Canadian, is fat and sleek, well gaited and full of 
fire. To day I had him groomed till he looked like a picture, 
and the General, whose sharp eyes see everything, said he 
liked his looks. He would like to have him himself, so I 
had to lie about his not being steady under fire. He saw 
through that too, I believe, but did not say anything. 

At midnight orders came to "wait." 

MarcJi 20th. The command is still waiting for forage. 

The Fourth Division is the only one ready for the march, 
and we are getting credit for it. Made out weekly and tri- 
monthly reports of the division. 

Generals Alexander, Winslow and McCook, and some of 
General Wilson's staff officers came over to our headquarters 
— a clever lot of fellows. They had many arguments, and 
told some good anecdotes. One on the Major, that pleased 
everybody but the Major, should not be omitted from the 
history of this campaign, and which gained for him the title 
"Old Buttermilk." As we scouted through the Arkansas 
Valley, the command being in need of forage, the Major at 
the head of the advance, rode up to the barn of what proved 
to be the property of a maiden lady, who ran the farm. 
Accosting a darkey boy, "Hello there! Are there any 
sheaf oats on the place?" This message the boy shouted up 
the stairs to his mistress, who, affrighted at the approach of 
the soldiers, was hiding under the bed. " Missus," de sol- 
diers wants de she folks!" What thoughts must have run 
riot through the poor female's startled soul, who shall say? 
She came to the window and with a hysterical scream ad- 
dressed the Major: "Take all I have, gentlemen. Take 
everything; but spare my honor!" So struck with amaze- 
ment was the Major, that he squealed back in a high-pitched 
voice, "Oh, damn your honor, have you any buttermilk?" 
This title stuck. 

While the Second Brigade band was serenading. Captain 
Gilpin, aide-de-camp, and I started off to make the "grand 
rounds," visiting the pickets, seeing that every sentinel was 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 625 

at his post and the guards on duty. We must have gone 
twenty miles, from 9 o'clock till 12:30, over some mighty 
rough country, and fording several streams between roads. 
There is a fascination about the call "halt !" in the darkness, 
and the order to dismount and advance with the countersign. 
There is always the thought that some blundering Irishman 
will shoot you first and inquire for the countersign after- 
ward. We had some exciting and amusing experiences, and 
found the videttes diligently attending to duty, and every- 
thing safe. The boys are all wide awake. 

Passing General Wilson's headquarters, he and Upton 
were busy with maps and papers spread out before them in 
the tent; the two generals, alike in a way, yet very unlike — 
alike in this, that each has confidence in the other and in 
himself. 

March 21st. General Wilson has seen service in both 
Eastern and Western armies. He was an engineer officer 
with General Grant at Vicksburg. At Winchester he was 
brevetted major general for gallantry ; he fought his cav- 
alry divisions with skill at the battles of Franklin and Nash- 
ville. I see him seldom ; when I do, he is sitting straight 
in the saddle and riding hard. He is a superb horseman, 
and his soldiers like him. He has told some of the officers 
of Upton's having been wounded at Winchester by a burst- 
ing shell that cut his leg open and laid bare the femoral 
artery ; but he did not leave the field ; had the surgeon stop 
the flow of blood, and then his men carried him on a 
stretcher, where he continued to give orders, and led his di- 
vision in a successful turning movement against the enemy's 
left flank. General Sherman, who was commanding in the 
fight, ordered him to the rear, but he refused to go until the 
victory had been won. General Wilson was anxious to get 
him here to command one of his divisions. 

While the generals are in the tent laying the plan of 
march, I will slip over to the regiment and see what the boys 
of the Third Iowa are about. Mess kits burnished, and 
blankets fluttering in the wind; the boys all merry; they 
have made themselves comfortable in camp. Felix Cub- 



626 • THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 

berly, poet ]aureate of "E" Company, broke loose after this 

fashion : 

"The earth beneath, tny feather bed, 
The sky above my cover-led," 

and being a wise poet, he knew when to stop. 

Our fellows can do anything, from running a locomotive 
to a prayer meeting ; they are masons, stokers, lawyers, 
farmers, engineers, store-keepers, shoemakers, horse-doctors, 
gamesters, and not a few can play the fiddle o'nights, or 
could before we broke them of it. The regiment has always 
been popular from the first. A romantic interest in it grew 
after the battle of Pea Ridge, when it fought Albert Pike's 
Indians, and Glen Lowe, the handsome young adjutant 
brought out its wounded Colonel Trimble from under the 
feet of the Indian ponies. Its ranks are always full. After 
reenlisting and getting furlough, when they crossed the ice 
on the Mississippi River, snow-balling in mimic warfare, 
they found boys enough to make two regiments, and they 
returned to service under General Winslow, with full ranks. 

Harvey Morris was in the midst of a yarn about Forrest. 
Harvey was standing guard on Wolf River, below Memphis, 
and halted an old darkey driving out with a dead dray-horse; 
suspecting something, he stuck his saber in the carcass, and 
found it stulfed full of cartridges and percussion caps. He 
said the old darkey driver's eyes bugged out so you could 
have snared them with a vine ! We know that Forrest 
came into our lines that day driving an old team of horses 
with some cotton bales, and. at night his raiders made a dash 
into the city, chased General Washburn along the river bank 
into Fort Pickering, and came within an ace of capturing 
General Sherman.^' It was only by good luck he escaped. 
Forrest had lived in Memphis and was familiar with the 
city. 

Among other stories they tell one on Jim McCalmont, 
that now he is promoted should be hushed up, but he takes 
it good naturedly; too long to tell, yet too good to be lost. 



* Generals Slocum and Sherman were to be there that day, but Sherman 
was delayed. — E. N. G. 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 627 

As we marched in column of fours out of Fulton, Missouri, 
and came to the wide outlying fields along the level road, 
Jim, then a new recruit, a sort of Methodist lay-preacher, 
the butt of the gibes of the unregenerate, was attracted by 
the fruit now turning red on a cluster of trees. He had 
never seen persimmons. Encouraged by sundry seductive 
remarks, which the captain overheard, he lit off his horse, 
climbed a tree, filled his pockets and came back with eyes 
alight to share with the others. In the meantime it had 
gone all along the line, and the column, charged like a gal- 
vanic battery, in ominous silence awaited his return. One 
after another, the boys took the fruit, and he with his pocket 
knife cut a slice and with Spartan braveness swallowed the 
first bite, and with puckered mouth began his discourse: 
"If this fruit was brought in and domesticated — " This was 
the touch; the fellows of "E" Company followed hard by the 
whole battalion, yelled and howled and whooped, every note 
from the piping treble of the second bugler, to the hoarse 
bellows-like roar of the company blacksmith — all the gamut 
of derisive sounds, while poor McCalmont rode along crest- 
fallen ; and Jim and his "domesticated persimmons" became 
a part of the regimental history. 

I was by his side a year later, on the raid through Miss- 
issippi (we were under General Joe Mower), crossing a drift 
below Holly Springs, clearing a way for a temporary bridge, 
McCalmont-, with his carbine at his shoulder taking aim, 
when a bullet pierced the bend of his arm and shattered the 
bone above the elbow. Leading him back to the ambu- 
lance, I watched for the first time the true horrors of war in 
the working of the surgeon's chain-saw, coiling and uncoil- 
ing, serpent-like, around the naked bone. But a gristle grew 
that answered pretty well in place of bone, and after a time 
he returned to duty. He had grit. At Ripley, he got little 
Swift, who was badly wounded, out from under the feet of 
the stampeding horses and into an ammunition wagon. 
When Marsh Clark was badly shot and bleeding to death, 
Jim held on to the artery all night, till the surgeon got there 
in the morning. We were all glad when he got his promo- 
tion. 



628 THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 

• 

March 22d. Thompson's plantation. Left camp at Chick- 
asaw at 5:30 o'clock this morning, the Third Iowa lead- 
ing the column, three of us ahead of the advance guard, 
when a Confederate olificer rode out of a side path, near a 
farm house. Seeing us, he spurred furiously down the road, 
and we after him. He was well mounted, and soon dis- 
tanced us, and after galloping a few hundred yards, we halted 
for the command to come up. Afterward we were talking 
with one of the scouts, who thought it was Roddy himself, 
but he would hardly have been such a dare-devil. We know' 
he is here with part of Buford's division, watching our move- 
ments. 

It is a scheme of Forrest to brigade his troops by cjtates, 
so this Alabama division in front of us is made up of men 
from that State. He has a Georgia brigade, a Tennessee 
brigade; the Texas and Missouri regiments are his "Old 
Guard." This is playing State pride for all it is worth. 
Forrest, the ablest general of them all, has been made a lieu- 
tenant general and placed in command of the cavalry forces 
in the Southwest. As nearly as we can learn he has be- 
tween ten and twelve thousand cavalry with him now, and 
ought to make a pretty stout fight when we strike him. 

The country over which we came to-day is very hilly, 
covered with a growth of pine. 

March 2jd. Newburg, Alabama. Column marched at 
5:30 A. M. Passed Memphis & Charleston Railroad at Cher- 
okee Station, the route of Hood's retreating army. Our line 
of march along sandy ridges. Peach trees are blooming, and 
they present the only feature of interest. 

In the afternoon we descended into the Tuscumbia Val- 
ley, a picturesque country with the familiar hard wood trees. 

At the little town of Russellville, our scouts were waiting 
for us with a batch of prisoners, twenty-three in all, among 
them a major and a captain from Roddy's command. One 
"pussy" fellow, a swashbuckler in butternut coat, who called 
himself "colonel," looked like Sir John Falstaff. They told 
us he had been in Lee's army, and had come home to raise a 
regiment ; he had been on furlough a year and over, and had 
not raised it yet. Forrest, enforcing a pitiless conscription, 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 629 

drafted him and put him in the ranks. We captured tlie fat 
knight without the loss of a man. 

Like other towns in North Alabama, Russellville is almost 
deserted. 

Our march this evening was over the rockiest and dustiest 
road imaginable. Camped near Newburg. Headquarters at 
a little farm house, where we found good water, and "bee 
gums" full of honey. 

March 2^th. Hubbard's Plantation. Left camp at 5:30 
A. M. Pleasant day's march through open country. Late in 
the afternoon as the column wound down the road, we came 
upon a house of more than ordinary architectural preten- 
sions. It stood on a sloping mountain side, above a deeply 
wooded glen, the place deserted except for an old servant and 
a couple of lean hounds, probably old favorites of the chase, 
that hung about the kennels. It looked a typical home of 
the horse racing, fox hunting gentry of the old regime. 
From the arched doorway it was easy to imagine the figure 
of some dashing Di Vernon emerging in her riding habit, and 
the old master of the hall, foot in stirrup, shouting cheerily, 
"Call ThorniCj call all of them!" Now it was forlorn 
enough. The owner had gone South, his sons away in the 
army, one of them on Forrest's staff — the great hall de- 
serted. 

March 2^th. This is a country of rivers. The little 
wriggles of ink down the page of our military map are 
mountain streams flowing by stately pine woods, through 
hemlock-bordered ravines ; some clear and colorless, others 
shaded blue and green, that when falling in sunlit cascades 
are very beautiful. Clear Creek Falls at the headwaters of 
the Black Warrior, are the most picturesque imaginable. 
One would have to be both poet and painter to do them jus- 
tice in description. 

It was necessary to march the divisions on different roads, 
and they are now converging toward the Black Warrior, 
Forrest is a wily foe, and it is a question whether he will at- 
tack one division separated from the others, at the river. A 
party of the Third under Lieutenant Battin, the advance of 
the army, had made camp at Throckmorton's, intending to 



630 THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 

* 

try the main ford next day and see if it was passable. All 
the streams are swollen by the heavy rains. If the artillery 
takes. this ford to-morrow they will have to raise the ammu- 
nition in the" caissons. After posting^ pickets on both roads 
and a sentinel at the crossing, we made camp for the night. 

At the head of the falls we found a quaint old mill and 
a queer little old miller. The trough that conducts power 
from the dam has fallen into decay, and the old fellow waits 
for high water to run his mill. However, he did not have 
many calls for grist, for Hood's army had pretty well cleaned 
the region of grain. We were lucky to find a few bushels of 
corn on a by-road to vSipsey Creek. The wheels were soon 
whirling and the yellow meal was in a jiffy made into bat- 
ter, spread on cypress shingles, propped up at an angle to 
the coals, cooked to a turn, and eaten — and we had "ole 
Kentucky corn pone and hoecake" galore! 

After supper some of the fellows made a raid on a to- 
bacco loft, and soon the air was fragrant with the smell of 
the long, light brown leaves, crumbling beneath the touch, 
as we filled and lit our cob pipes about the camp fire in true 
soldierly fashion. 

Suddenly a shot rang out at the ford, followed by another 
and another in quick succession. 

Then Lieutenant Battin's voice in sharp command — 
"Fall in, men!" and we were in the saddle with carbines 
ready, when a sentinel galloped up with, "Reb cavalry at 
the river ! " 

Skirmishing began, and we fought some three or four 
hundred Confederates all the way to Jasper. 

The citizens had never seen Yankees before and were 
badly scared. And now the bullets began to fly and test 
the men who have already stood all the tests. The two or 
three cowards in every company are well known, but they 
do camp duty, stand guard, and are all-around useful men 
but for the one infirmity. With a corporal on one side and 
a sergeant on the other, they exhibit soldierly qualities. 
This being under fire is not pleasant to anybody. Some- 
times I'd like to have a corporal on one side of me, a ser- 
geant on the other, and two or three non-commissioned 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 631 

officers in front ; for even the bark knocked off the trees 
stings like a whiplash. It is not a pleasant sound to hear 
the ping of a bullet at the side of your head, or hitting the 
other fellow and see him swaying in his saddle ; the swish 
of grape and canister and the noise of other missiles in the 
air is not agreeable. Presently you begin to feel that you 
are right in the place where the next shell is coming. Then 
it is time for you to begin firing, or give your horse the 
spur and get your blood up, for the next thing you know you 
will have an irresistible desire to get out of there. But 
taking a firmer seat in the saddle you pull your cap down a 
trifle over your eyes and get ready to hear the command 
"Forward!" Our fellows reenlisted for the war after the 
three years' service expired, and they know why they are 
here. When they stand-by your side in a fight, you get to 
be like brothers, and after the fight is over you do not like 
to have any of them gone. 

Our pontoon train too far in the rear to be of use. Gen- 
eral Wilson ordered General Upton to contrive a way of 
crossing. The Black Warrior is about one hundred and fifty 
yards wide, with rough bottom of shelving rock, and runs 
very swiftly. With some hesitation General Upton decided 
upon fording. The pioneer corps was at once ordered to 
work, and soon had a road cut to the water's edge. One of 
our prisoners was mounted on a good horse and his release 
offered him if he would cross and return. Many interested 
spectators gathered on the bank to watch the fun. The 
brave fellow pitched in alone, carefully moving, occasionally 
slipping, sometimes almost falling, but at last across safely 
and back. General Upton and staff moved in after the 
Second Brigade had crossed ; many had fallen into the river, 
some swimming, others clinging to the rocks, and some 
plunging far down where the channel ran between precij^i- 
tous banks at the mercy of the foaming waters. In the midst 
of the rapids "Charley" stepped off a ledge, and a current 
dashed him from his footing, but a gentle admonition in the 
ribs with my spurs soon righted him, and I moved slowly on, 
stumbling along the broken ledges, the waves surging and 
foaming angrily away, followed by a dark green ripple that 



632 * THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 

made me dizzy in spite of myself; but at length I came to 
good bottom, safely through the deeper water to terra firma. 

Troops were all day in crossing. Forrest lost his chance, 
for he might have taken us at a great disadvantage. 

March 281/1. Elyton, Alabama. Marched at 9:30 A. M. 
Skirmishing began soon after leaving camp, and kept up 
nearly all day. Confederates firing and running. General 
Upton marched with the advance guard. Halted the com- 
mand on a plantation of a rich old Southerner who owns 
the whole magnificent valley. We took possession of his 
farm and mansion house, with a little army of negroes. 
Turkeys, chickens, butter, eggs, hams in the smoke houses, 
thousands of bushels of corn in the barns, and forage of all 
kinds on the place. Visited the wine cellar, where rows of 
casks and dust-covered bottles were flanked by baskets and 
portly demijohns. "And monks might deem their time was 
come again, if ancient tales say true." Rolled the barrels 
of peach and apple brandy from among the musty cobwebs 
into the light of day, and those who were fortunate enough 
not to have taken the pledge were seen to smack their lips 
even before the bungs were started ! On one point my recol- 
lection is quite distinct : An ancient barrel of apple — or was 
it peach? — brandy, the delightful odor of which pervaded the 
air as its contents flowed into our cups like syrup, was con- 
fiscated without delay, lest it might give aid or comfort to 
the enemy. 

The Second Brigade made a saber charge, driving Rod- 
dy's rear guard out of Elyton From captured scouts we 
learned that Chalmers' division is marching on Tuscaloosa. 
General Wilson at once dispatched a brigade to burn the 
bridge over the Cahawba River, to prevent Jackson from 
uniting with Forrest, and has slipped the Fourth Division 
in between their forces. 

March 2gth. Cahawba River. Our scouts have been out 
with Colonel Warner, who has 700 men with him, to harass 
us as we march. 

Passed iron works and rolling mills, from which the Con- 
federate government obtains much of its material for the 
arsenal at Selma. We burned and blew them up. 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 633 

Citizens told us that General Forrest was expected at 
the mills to-day; his pioneers had passed through. We cut 
trees and corduroyed the road, and pushed on, arriving at 
the Cahawba River at 3 p. m. The Confederates had taken 
possession of the opposite bank, and began firing as our ad- 
vance came up. It was too late to cross, and we were 
ordered into camp. It had been raining, and the prospect 
was not very bright. I secured a little territory among the 
trees, made my bed of pine boughs with my saddle for a pil- 
low. 

Stayed in camp late this morning, the General and staff 
occupying rooms in the house, where the old gentleman 
treated us hospitably. 

One of the soldiers while halted, picked up a book lying 
open on the porch, and reading the title " Les Miserables," 
asked the old gentleman if it was about Lee's soldiers? The 
old man gave him a queer smile, but did not reply. 

The Confederates were still holding the opposite bank, 
and began firing when we started to cross. As the shots be- 
gan to ring out, and were replied to, the old gentleman who 
had treated us hospitably, with a look of anxiety came to 
General Upton, saying, "They are not firing at each other, 
are they?" As the shots came faster and faster, he came up 
close and put his hand on the horse's neck, " My two boys 
are there!" and with tears in his eyes he kept repeating, as 
though he could not believe it, "They are not trying to kih 
each other, are they?"' 

While a diversion was being made at the ford, the First 
Ohio crossed on an old railroad bridge a mile above, came 
down with a yell on the other side and routed them out. 

March joth. Montevallo. 

General Upton, with a detachment and two pieces of ar- 
tillery, marched rapidly over a rough and broken country to- 
ward Montevallo. Passed more iron works and mills, and 
left their smouldering ruins. Eight miles from town our 
advance encountered the Confederates under General Roddy, 
fought them into town, and charged them out. Many citi- 
zens went with them. We captured their forage and rations. 



634 . THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 

We have marched forty three miles to-day with the pack 
train and artillery, leaving the main body to come up later. 
Our headquarters at Judge Shortridge's. General Upton 
was up till after midnight with the engineer who plotted the 
fortifications at Selma, with maps and papers spread out be- 
fore them, studying and planning the downfall of the city. 
I stood it as long as I could, and then lay down on the parlor 
floor and went to sleep. 

March jTst. Out in the woods near Randolph. 

Remained in camp at Montevallo until 12:30 p. M., wait-' 
ing for the command to come up, as the enemy was found to 
be in force. An expedition under command of Colonel Ben- 
teen was sent out and destroyed rolling mills and factories, 
six in all. A brigade of the enemy was encountered. The 
Colonel ordered his regiment to draw saber and charge, him- 
self leading ; stampeded them and came back. The Confed- 
erates followed with reinforcements, and drove our pickets 
in. At noon General Wilson and staff came. General Up- 
ton moved out on the Selma Road with the Fourth Division. 
Lyon's brigade had taken a position on a hill above the road, 
a mile from town. 

The General charged at the head of the Fifth Iowa, and 
after a sharp fight drove the enemy and captured 'a number 
of prisoners. Our division in advance ; fighting all day — a 
continual skirmish, killing and wounding many, and captur- 
iiig '35 prisoners. Both divisions camped late at night. 
The Confederates are just across the creek. The Third 
Iowa and Tenth Missouri did most of the fighting to-day, 
losing considerably. 

The night is dark, and so still that we can hear all 
their movements. Our artillery is ranked so as to cut a wide 
swath down the approaches. A little over in the woods one 
of our twelve-pounders just now sent a shell crashing 
through the underbrush. It being unexpected, I think I 
never heard so loud a noise. By the time my hair settled 
back in place, I heard the shell explode in their camp, on 
the other side. 

It seemed an awfully long night, for I had to keep awake 
to pilot the different companies to their positions at the 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 635 

bridge and along the bank of the creek, taking those off 
duty back to their regiments every two hours ; and it had to 
be done very quietly. The General kept his ears open pretty 
nearly all night, and if anything was afoot, he heard it. 

April 1st. Maplesville Station, on Alabama & Tennes- 
see R. R. 

Marched at daylight. Skirmishing all day, driving them 
slowly but steadily. Near the station Old Maplesville, more 
generally known as Ebenezer Church, we met the enemy 
under .General Forrest. Long advanced on the right with 
the Second Division, Upton on the left with our division. 
We could hear the shrill whistle of the locomotives, and 
knew the enemy were being reinforced. Upton ordered 
Winslow's brigade to charge with the saber, and led them 
himself. 

The Confederates held the crest of a ridge, flanked by a 
deep miry creek, with artillery posted so as to sweep both 
roads. As soon as we developed their position, one could 
have sworn that Forrest was in command. A column was 
advancing to charge our flank. I thought of Guntown, and 
our boys floundering in the Tishomingo, fighting in desper- 
ation for the bridge, as I spurred back at a gallop over the 
dusty road repeating to myself the order at every jump, 
"Tell Rodney for God's sake get his battery up !" When I 
reached the panting artillery horses, Rodney in a flash 
double teamed, and urging them with his saber — the can- 
noneers bending forward in their saddles, the horses strain- 
ing every muscle — gained the hill-top, swung his guns free, 
and sent the shells whirling over our boys, who were fight- 
ing hand to hand in the fields below. By a succession of 
impetuous charges we forced them from the field, dislodged 
them from the heights, and drove them helter skelter five 
miles past Maplesville Station. 

The road was strewn with guns, belts, cartridge boxes, 
coats and hats. "Too fast for \.\iQ\r: goods!'' the boys would 
say. 

The day's events have been so many and so exciting, 
that I cannot record them. It is impossible to record the 
deeds of personal skill and daring. Captain Crail was 



686 THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 

wounded. He is always getting wounded ; he is a very 
clever fellow but for that. Captain Gilpin, aide-de-camp, ad- 
vanced with a detachment of the Seventh Ohio Cavalry un- 
der orders to develop the enemy's line. It was bravely done 
at a great sacrifice, every man being killed or wounded un- 
der the converging fire. The genial captain came out on 
foot, with four or five bullet holes through his coat ; if he 
had not dodged one that went through his collar he would 
have staid with his horse — that was not good at dodging. 
Lieutenant Veatch, with ten of his men, fell as they 
tore away the obstructions to the Confederate battery. In 
justice to the brave artillerymen it should be said, they lost 
their lives first — their guns afterward. 

Sergeant John Wall was shot through the hand that 
held the guidon, but carried it on in the other, and cap- 
tured a Confederate officer. 

Captain John Brown again distinguished himself, cap- 
turing more than his company numbered. 

General Upton was with Lieutenant Battin at the head 
of the Third Iowa Cavalry when they made the last charge at 
Six Mile Creek, and again and again applauded them for 
their gallantry. 

Colonel Noble* was so pleased with the conduct of his 
regiment under the eye of the general that he could hardly 
keep his saddle. Those of us who were with him in the 
Sturgis raid understand why. 

Alexander's brigade of this division made a magnificent 
charge upon a battery, and proved themselves true soldiers 
from first to last. 

General Upton has captured his division. When the fight- 
ing was hottest, he was right there by their side, and they 
know he is a brave man and a skillful general. Their hearts 
are with him. He came here a boy — and has ivhipped For- 
rest, and they all want to yell when they see him riding 
down the line. 

Our division captured two ten-pounder Parrot guns and 
135 prisoners; the Second Division one gun and two hun- 
dred prisoners. 



♦Afterwards Secretary of the Inteii(>r in Hariison's Cabinet. 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 6^7 

The reinforcements did not have time to get off the cars. 

The Confederates had unloaded a great deal of forage at 
the station, intending to whip us and then feed, but we cap- 
tured every pound of it. There were several Napoleon guns 
on the cars. The prisoners said, "We will get them later." 

While charging, Captain Taylor, our Indiana cavalryman, 
ran up to General Forrest, hit him over the head with his 
saber, and ordered him to surrender. Forrest drew his re- 
volver and shot him dead. Another of our boys followed 
hard after, striking at him with his saber as he ran, and shot 
as he Jumped the fence, and thought he wounded him in fhe 
arm. His men say he has sworn he will never surrender. 
We spiked the cannon, bent the guns, buried the dead and 
cared for wounded, established hospitals, made preparations 
for comfort, and as night came on, encamped. 

Our headquarters at Dr. Phillips' fine house. Ate my 
supper and turned in, but was so full of the day's excitement 
that I could not sleep. In the adjoining room I heard the 
General turn uneasily in his bed, then start up, give orders, 
and in his dreams was fighting the battle over again. When 
I went in his room he said his leg pained. I asked if I 
should get Dr. Carter? He said no. It was just the nerve 
giving him a twinge. I set the candle down and was going, 
when he asked the time. It was after midnight, for the 
guards had been relieved. I told him everything was right, 
and he could rest content with the army he had led that day 
around him. I put out the light, and soon he was breathing 
regularly, and presently fell asleep. 

As I looked from the window, all was quiet where our 
army lay encamped ; not a sound came up through the dark- 
ness, and only the light of campfires glimmered in the sky, 
away south toward Selma. 

April 2d. Sunday. Selma, Alabama. 

Left camp at 9:30 A. M. General Croxton, with First Brig- 
ade, Second Division, had marched toward Tuscaloosa to 
intercept Jackson. 

Detached expeditions burned iron works, factories, rolling 
and flour mills, and destroyed millions of dollars worth of 



638 • THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 

cotton. General Upton, with the Fourth Division, took the 
left hand road ; General Long with the Second the right. 

Our line of march is along the top of hills that extend to 
the city of Selma. At the head of his division, his face a 
little pale, General Upton is being watched by every soldier 
in the command. 

We passed a "Johnny" leaning against a tree, who had 
received a curious wound ; a bullet had cut off the tip of his 
nose, and the blood was trickling down on the leaves. As 
the column passed, I heard an old trooper say : " My friend, 
you put your nose just a leetle too far into this here Rebel- 
lion." 

Yesterday one fellow was shot through his canteen filled 
with molasses, and lost it all. Colonel Noble was struck ; 
the bullet dented his saber-belt plate, doubling him up, but 
he was not seriously wounded. Lieutenant Battin caught 
one between his leg and the saddle, grazing his leg and 
plowing through the saddle-flap. Bullets play some very 
funny tricks; sometimes a Testament or deck of cards will 
deflect a bullet from the heart of some mother's darling, and 
for that reason one should read his Testament and play cards 
when he goes for a soldier. 

A wide fertile valley below us shows delightfully green, 
and as we march we hear the tinkling of bells, the lowing of 
cattle, and singing of larks in the fields. Stopping here to 
eat my dinner, the indistinct murmur of life on a farm comes 
to my ears like music. 

Went to the head of the column and found it halted in 
full view and range of the enemy's works at Selma. Gen- 
eral Wilson came up and he and General Upton rode to a 
little skirt of timber and examined the position with their 
field glasses. The fortifications are 600 yards distant, a 
formidable line of forts and earthworks, with palisades ex- 
tending a distance of three miles, with the flanks resting on 
the river, above and below the city. On the left, in our 
front, is a wide stretch of swamp land, into which the road 
runs and disappears In Long's front the country is open, 
except for a line of timber skirting a ravine, through which 
a considerable creek flows. The forts began shelling and 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN. ■ 639 

we fell back to a point out of range. While the generals 
were consulting, I made a return from the last reports of 
regimental officers of the number of men in the command 
now formed in compact column, waiting for the order to ad- 
vance. 

Order for assault by the Second Division on the Summer- 
field Road and by ours on the Plantersville Road, the signal, 
one gun, at 6 o'clock, to be fired from Rodney's battery. 

Our last day's march was pushed so swiftly that no time 
was left Forrest to make disposition of his forces, until we 
closed in on the city. He played his old game, however, 
and a delayed force trying to join the main Confederate col- 
umn made a dash on the train in the. rear of the Second 
Division, intending to throw it into confusion. General 
Wilson had provided for that with a regiment on guard 
there, and trumped his little trick. 

When the attack was made on our rear, the Confederates 
sallied out of their works immediately in our front, and the 
Second Division, without waiting for the signal, moved to 
the assault. A sharp volley checked their advance ; another 
accompanied by a yell and a charge, drove them back to 
their works; our division moved forward, and the battle 
was on. Volley followed volley ; the long loud rattle of our 
Spencers, and the reply by our batteries to the incessant 
heavy booming of guns from the forts. With a cheer, our 
boys charged dismounted across the fields and swamps, over 
rifle pits and embankments, over trenches and palisades, up 
through the battery smoke, on to the parapet, yelling like 
devils. Tearing down obstructions they opened the way. 
Along half of the battle front the strong palisades held, and 
the attack of the Fourth Cavalry was repulsed. 

General Wilson, on his white horse, led forward the 
mounted reserves. At a steady trot the long blue line 
formed across the plain ; then spurring to a gallop, the 
ground trembled with the thunder of hoofs, the air scintil- 
lant with the flash of saber blades, the cavalry charge, like a 
tornado let loose, swept through all opposition ! Our carbines 
and sabers, Yankees and yells, proved too much for the 
Johnnies, and Selma was fairly won ! 



640 THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 

We*captured everything they had, and 3,000 prisoners. 
Forrest made his escape along- the river road, fleeing with 
his broken army. As they ran, they set fire to a large cotton 
storehouse near the arsenal. The fire spread to barracks 
and ammunition houses, shells exploding and flying in every 
direction ; brigades of both divisions in pursuit. The Con- 
federates running for life, jumping their horses over the 
bluffs into the river, our cavalrymen after them to the brink, 
cutting and slashing with their sabers. Soldiers yelling 
vengeance, for some of our men were shot from their saddles 
after entering the city; citizens scared, women and children 
screaming, excitement high everywhere. Of all the nights 
of my experience, this is most like the horrors of war — a 
captured city burning at night, a victorious army advancing, 
and a demoralized one retreating. 

The soldiers, overpowered by weariness, wrapped in their 
blankets, sunk to rest about the streets; thecitizens, exhausted 
by excitement and fear, the cries of their children hushed at 
last, snatching a troubled sleep ; the wounded, lulled by 
opiates into forgetfulness of their amputated legs and arms; 
the dead, in their last sleep, with white faces upturned to 
the sky; for the passion, cruelty, bitterness and anguish of 
war, this Sunday night now nearly gone, will be remembered. 
If there is a merciful God in the heavens. He must be look- 
ing down upon this scene in pity. 
April ^d. Selma. 

Up early and out in the city. Several squares burning, 
and soldiers running with the engines, more for amusement 
than to put out the fire, splashing the fire and unlucky citi- 
zens time about. 

Thornton and I rode out to see the battlefield and forts. 
Two lines of breastworks flanked by miry swamps and 
quicksands, rifle pits and stockades, extend around the town. 
The forts are dangerous looking affairs in themselves. 
Deep ditches and sharp palisades protect them on all sides. 
Where our boys could not tear them away or pry them apart, 
they jumped on each other's backs and scaled them in a 
game of "leap frog." Many guns in each, some fine Parrott 
guns. The Confederates got out in such a hurry that they did 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 641 

not spike them. We broke, spiked, and burned them all. 
Everything is done by strategy on this raid. The Confed- 
erate generals have all been fooled, from Forrest down. 
General Wilson, who looks the dare-devil as he gallops past, 
is as cautious as an old maid. He waits until " the sign is 
right," then goes in with a dash. He and Upton pla}'- into 
each other's hands as though the thing were all cut and 
dried. It is done so quickly, it is over before you know you 
are hurt. If we had laid siege to Selma, half the command 
would have been killed or wounded As it was, we have 
lost less than four hundred. We struck them like lightning ; 
the thunder-clap was there as soon as the flash ; when the 
storm broke, all we had to do was to take them in out of the 
wet. 

From the forts we went to the iron foundry; immense 
machinery, hundreds of guns of all sizes, some very fine 
naval guns, and thousands of shot and shell. 

General Upton is in command of an expedition in pursuit 
of Forrest. 

Everything is progressing smoothly with the great cav- 
alry raid. General Wmslow is provost marshal of the city, 
and discipline is strict again. 

Word came that Croxton had defeated Jackson and cap- 
tured Tuscaloosa. 

April ph. Went down to the ordnance train, found 
Thornton, and together we visited the great Selma arsenal, 
but could not pass the guard. However, we looked at the 
shot and shell piled up in great rows, through the long 
shops. From there we went to the stockade, where about 
3,000 prisoners are confined. They prepared this " shebang " 
for our reception. The fair ladies of Selma are busying 
themselves feeding and caring for the captured Confed- 
erates. Our boys sympathize with the Johnnies, and as a 
consequence, walk home with the girls. After a long ride 
around the city, came back to headquarters. 

The large foundry was fired just at dark; shells are ex- 
ploding one after another, then by platoons and squadrons, 
then back to one, and up and away again, never stopping, 
a bright light flashing and wavering, throwing shadows over 



642 ■ THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 

the housetops, trees, church spires, and in among the col- 
ums that support the balcony over our heads. A few of us 
are sitting together, our chairs tipped back against the pil- 
lars listening to the war music, and chatting. The station 
of the Alabama and Tennessee Railroad with many cars 
and locomotives, is also burning. 

April ^th. The Selma arsenal covers ten acres of ground, 
and is full of all manner of military stores. Thousands of 
boxes of ammunition and caissons ready for shipment — but 
too late ! There were rifles, carbines, canned powder, revol- 
vers and muskets — an immense array of stores for killing 
Yankees. We found 500 darkies under orders, piling dry 
lumber and other combustibles for the coming conflagra- 
tion. 

Colonels Lyons and Patterson, who commanded brigades, 
are prisoners ; another officer, as report has it, wants to come 
in and take command of his brigade, which he says is all in 
the stockade. 

April 6ih. Writing orders concerning our coming march. 
It has been raining all day, the Alabama River is high, and 
we have been delayed preparing the bridge. The river is 
rising ; its current is swift and strong. 

General Wilson went to Cahawba under a flag of truce to 
arrange with Forrest an exchange of prisoners. Found For- 
rest grumpy and unwilling to make terms, but Wilson got the 
information he went after. He expects to recapture the 
prisoners. 

April yth. Saddled "Charley " and rode out beyond town 
to the forts and works which surround the city. Spent a 
pleasant day following my fancy. Selma is a beautiful place, 
and the war has never been much of a burden to it until our 
Cavalry Corps came in. 

April 8th. General Upton and staff came in with the 
First Brigade, having marched 120 miles and had a skirmish 
with the enemy near Summerfield. They found a captain 
and a dozen men, scouts of ours, dead; they had been killed 
outright in a barn where they were asleep. General Wilson 
has sent Forrest word that he will retaliate. Surgeon Max- 
well came in from Montevallo, where he had been in charge 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 



643 



of our wounded. He met Forrest at Plantersville, who said 
a captain of a charging regiment ran at him with his saber, 
struck him and was trying to run him through, when he shot 
him. The captain belonged to Company "C," Seventeenth 
Indiana. Forrest said our men showed more gallantry in 
that engagement than he had ever seen. 

We all drew Confederate clothing and made ready for 
marching. They are concentrating all. their forces, intend- 
ing to whip us before we get out of Alabama. 

General Alexander, who is superintending the construc- 




Brigadiek General. A. J. Ai.exander, U. S. Volunteers. 

Major 8th U. S. Cavalry, July 28, 186*;; Lieut. Col. 2d IJ. S. Cavalry, March 20, 1879 
Retired July 3, 1885; Died May 1, 1887. 



tion of the pontoon bridge across the river, narrowly escaped 
with his life to-day. Mike Worley was holding a rope, let- 
ting a log go under ; drift-wood was running, and it was hard 
work. The General, provoked with him for not doing it 
right, and in trying to get hold of the rope, lost his footing 
and fell from his skiff into the river. The swift current 
drew him under the pontoons, and he would have drowned 



644 . THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 

as sure* as fate, if Worley had not o^one down and held to 
him till they were hauled out. It took a brave man to do it. 

April gth. Business in the office finished, went out in 
the city in search of amusement. Went to one of the best 
looking- houses in the neighborhood, sat down on the porch 
and began a conversation with Mr. Montford. Told him 
who I was, and the current news at headquarters, and got 
the old gentleman interested, I suppose. He asked me to 
dinner; I declined, but said I would come and take supper 
with him. He seemed a little surprised, but quickly recover- 
ing said, "Yes, and spend the evening, and I'll have my girls 
sing and play for you." While we were talking, I saw two 
girl faces peeping from behind the curtain, so I thought I 
would ask Thornton to come too. At the appointed time 
we appeared at the Montford residence ; I, in a blue jacket 
and gilt saber-belt, gray trousers above my cavalry boots, 
and wearing a Secesh cap. Thornton is a handsome fellow, 
and in any uniform would take a girl's eye. 

The old gentleman introduced us to his affectionate 
daughters, the Misses Erminie and Kate. Thornton was at 
once struck with Miss Erminie. We walked in the garden, 
picked flowers, and talked of the beautiful in nature, and all 
that. A sweet faced, elderly lady announced supper, and 
made us welcome, saying that her son was a soldier too, 
pointing to a portrait on the wall, a handsome military figure 
in gray uniform, her eye resting with motherly pride on his 
features. I noticed that they were like her own. 

After supper we were invited to the parlor, and what was 
begun as a piece of soldierly bravado, was likely to end in a 
civilized social call. Waverly novels, handsomely bound, 
were with other books on the table. "There is no more ro- 
mance in these days, or I might call you Flora Mclvor," I 
said to Miss Kate. She had pictured how she and Miss Er- 
mine used to gallop up the river with a gay cavalcade, to 
where the Pearl and Swiftwater joined, and have their pic- 
nics in the woods. "That," she said, "was before Brother 
Henry took all our horses and joined Forrest." Miss Er- 
minie played "The Bonny Blue Flag," and other Southern 
songs, and then Miss Kate, to her sister's accompaniment, 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 645 

sang, "Tis But an Hour Since First We Met.' Both girls 
were little Rebels to the finger tips, and said they "hoped we 
would be taken prisoners." I told them of a pretty black- 
haired little Rebel, who sat smiling innocently and fishing, 
her Capitola hat thrown carelessly beside her, while our com- 
mand was marching past; but she was counting every com- 
pany, to report our numbers to General Price, and we all nar- 
rowly escaped capture. At this Miss Kate laughed and 
clapped her hands and said : ''That's what I'd like to do ! " 

Perhaps it was because I had on Secesh clothes that I was 
so drawn to her; but she was a beautiful girl, and wore the 
rose that I had given her, and when she sweetly sang, " When 
This Cruel War is Over," she had to promise immediately to 
write the words. At the doorstep she gave me her hand and 
said: 'If they take you prisoner, I will have my brother 
see that they treat you well." She turned quickly away, for 
she knew I was reading her face. 

On my way to camp I kept humming the refrain, " Hopes 
and Fears How Vain," and trying to recall the tones of her 
voice. Next morning a parcel came, tied with a dainty pink 
ribbon, and the song written in a fine girlish hand, with 
"suit of gray" for "suit of blue," as it runs in the Northern 
version, the words "hoping that we meet again" under- 
scored, which made the recipient so sentimental that he was 
unfit for duty all the rest of the day. We have met again, 
and I found, what I knew I should find, a sweet sincerity 
added to her girlish beauty ; but even you, my curious little 
journal, shall not know what words were said. 

The command left Selma at night, crossing the bridge of 
boats. The intense lurid glow of the burning buildings on 
the bank lit up the river, and the long lines of cavalry 
seemed to be marching upon its surface. It was all night in 
crossing. In the gray dawn, as the bridge was torn away, 
Generals Wilson and Upton, halting their horses on the brow 
of a little hill, sat looking back to where disaster hung like a 
pall above the stricken city. 

General Wilson thinks the enemy badly crippled, and is 
determined to press on to Columbus, their stronghold in 
Georgia, and give the Confederacy a mortal wound. 



640 THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 

AprH loth. Church Hill, Alabama. 

The late rains had laid the dust, and it was pleasant 
marching. We passed through Benton. At this point 
skirmishing commenced. Where the roads crossed at a 
sharp angle, a regiment of cavalry were making a rush to 
get to the main road, and our boys at close range, poured a 
stream of fire from their carbines, so near that I could see 
the dust fly from their coats where the bullets struck. They 
were gallant fellows, as they rode at a gallop, their long hair 
blowing behind their little Secesh caps. As they leaped the 
fences, it was a goodly sight. 

As we came to the hill, a Confederate officer lay dying 
by the roadside. Jim McCalmont had dismounted and was 
kneeling by his side taking a ring from his finger as I rode 
up. It was set with a stone, that in the morning light 
showed red as the blood that was flowing from a ghastly 
wound in his breast. A swift, vague impression of having 
somewhere seen his face, made me stop. He was holding 
Jim's hand as he told his name — Captain Henry Montford, 
and begging him in broken words to send the ring to his 
mother, who lived in Selma. Dismounting I went close to 
his side, but could catch only a word or two of what he 
was trying to say. In a minute he sank back on the ground, 
his face growing pale in the shadow of death, while Jim was 
praying. We marked his grave, and sent his last message 
to his mother. 

This afternoon the Confederates were firing at us from 
the other side of a creek we could not cross. The steep clay 
bluffs were fifteen or twenty feet high, and eaten away by 
the current so that to ford it would be necessary to ride 
belly-deep thirty yards parallel with the bank before a turn 
could be made to ascend the further shore. General Upton 
galloped forward waving his sword and shouting at the top 
of his voice, so that the Confederates could distinctly hear: 
"They are flanking them on the left. Forward!" The ruse 
worked; I could hardly believe my eyes; they all lit out of 
there like a flock of wild ducks. There was nobody be- 
low the bend of the stream on their left but our head- 
quarters bugler, blowing for all he was worth, and an orderly 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 647 

raising the devil among the corn-stalks ! A battalion of 
men behind a slight breastwork could have held it against 
a brigade. 

Camped at dark. Our new darkey foraged extensively 
and got us a good supper. 

Headquarters at General Robinson's, who owns a fine 
plantation. He is in the Confederate army. His darkeys 
had taken all the horses and mules, and hid in the swamps. 

Writing late to-night orders of march for to-morrow, and 
an order for the punishment by flogging of a soldier of the 
command. When preparing General Upton's explanatory 
order to the soldiers, I made bold to say to him, that disci- 
pline was necessary, but I thought it should be lawfully en- 
forced ; if we all got our deserts none of us would escape 
whipping. "The man," he explained, "had broken into a 
house, threatened the women, and stolen jewelry. Such 
things were not to be tolerated by Christian soldiers, and he 
intended to make an example of him. We could and would 
take the last pound of food if it were needed, but thieving 
must be stopped." I then had a copy of Burns in my pocket, 
that I had "confiscated," and felt very uncomfortable. 

April nth. Lowndesborough, Alabama, 

Our division marched at daylight. The provost marshal 
led the soldier out with a detail to flog him. In attempting 
to tie him, he broke away. A party mounted and pursued 
him a quarter of a mile, overtook him and brought him 
back, tied him to a tree and gave him forty lashes upon his 
bare back, as the column was passing ; then his hands were 
tied behind him, and a placard placed upon his breast, upon 
which was written in large letters : " Flogged for Stealing." 
He was made to face the command till all had passed. 

These great forests of long-leaf pine, through which we 
march in a semi-twilight, are cushioned by the fallen 
needles, deadening the beat of hoofs; and a low continuous 
murmur is rising and falling around us like the sound of the 
distant surf. 

We had not marched far before we came to Big Swamp 
River ; here we rested for an hour while the engineers were 
repairing the corduroy road, and then we began navigation 



648 ' THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 

swamp ward. Of all the swamps I ever experienced, this is 
the swampiest. Majestic trees with hanging moss, tower 
above the gloomy waters, while a rank growth of juniper, 
nightshade arid all manner of climbing and creeping shrubs 
and vines choke up the road and render it almost impenetra- 
ble. The country around is low and marshy, often flooded for 
miles by the rising river, which, when falling, leaves a bed of 
quicksand and morass, broken and tangled weeds and vines, 
twined fantastically about the gnarled roots, making the 
somber forest sublimely dreary. 

Our division was all day crossing, and when halted upon 
the opposite side, presented a muddy spectacle. 

After leaving "The Big Swamp" we came up into some 
very fine country, where we halted upon a rich plantation and 
rested for two hours. At 4:30 p. M. we reached the beau- 
tiful little town of Lowndesborough, finely situated upon 
the mountain, and surrounded by lovely and picturesque 
country. 

We caibiped near town, while the pioneer corps is bridg- 
ing a bayou ahead for our march to-morrow. 

The citizens tell us that General Lee telegraphed that 
he had evacuated Richmond and was moving in the direc- 
tion of Danville. The news was announced, and the whole 
army is cheering. 

April i2tli. Montgomery. Our division marched at day- 
light. The Confederates in advance destroying bridges 
and throwing up obstructions in our road ; and at every con- 
venient position skirmishing, losing two or three men on 
each side. 

To-day we built a novel bridge over one of these creeks. 
Our artillery mired down, and it was impossible for a col- 
umn to ford. General Upton ordered every trooper to carry 
a fence rail on his shoulder, and when we came to the 
crossing we found a couple of heavy artillery caissons in 
mid-stream, for a foundation, and on them rested two forked 
pine trees for piers, across which ran sapling stringers ; 
every man threw his fence rail for a flooring, and swaying, 
and swinging the command crossed the rude bridge. I do 
not believe anybody ever saw that done before ; it held all 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 649 

right, and with drawn sabers we deployed and whipped the 
Johnnies in the open. 

Plantations we have passed to-day are fenced with Mex- 
ican rose-hedges, that offer almost as much defense as the 
osage orange. Now that they are blooming, it is a beau- 
tiful sight to see them, as far as the eye can reach, in long 
red and white lines. As they run parallel with the road, 
the gates and bars opening through them at intervals, serve 
well as places of ingress and egress for our flankers. 

Passed forts and rifle pits; making a wide detour to avoid 
the intense heat of burning mountains of cotton, we ascended 
the hill overlooking the city of Montgomery. 

General Wilson came up just as we were entering. 
There, before us was the State capital, the first capital of the 
Confederate States; now, from the dome, floated the "old 
flag!" In a moment every hat and cap flew off, and three 
cheers, loud and long, were given ! The town took up the 
echoes as old familiar sounds ; and the people seemed to 
live as of yore, under the "Stars and Stripes!" The town 
was surrendered to General McCook ; General Wilson and our 
officers went to his headquarters and had a jovial time. Col- 
onel LaGrange, whose brigade has been temporarily at- 
tached to our division, had a slight engagement and cap- 
tured a number of prisoners and battle-flags from Generals 
Adams and Buford. They did not offer much resistance, as 
they do not intend to make a stand until they reach Colum- 
bus, where they are concentrating their forces. 

We captured a dispatch from Jeff Davis, which reads : 
"Governor Watts asks help at Montgomery. Says, with the 
troops that can be spared from Georgia, he can save Mont- 
gomery, retake Selma and save Mobile!" All this might 
have happened, but it didn't ! Before His Excellency left 
his capital, he had seen the handwriting on the wall. 
April Tjth, Montgomery. 

We remain in camp here all day. It is a beautiful city 
on the high banks of the Alabama River. Early in the 
morning I employed my leisure in exploring. In a fine old 
church I found a darkey sweeping and made him pump for 
me while I played the organ. It sounded magnificently to 



650 THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 

one wlio cannot strike a dozen notes in order, and as there 
was no one there but the darkey to comment, I ran my 
fingers up and down the key-board in lively style, then 
pulled out the stops and let it have it, rolling out billows of 
sound that made the old church tremble. It brought the 
darkey up with eyes rolling: " 'Deed, suh, dat's suttinly dif- 
funt fum any playin' I evah heard ! " " That's a cavalry fugue 
with artillery accompaniment," I said, "and the only one of 
the kind." "Golly, Gosh, Massa Capting, how yo done fool 
pore ole Ben."' 

The Confederates, before they left, set fire to an immense 
amount of cotton to prevent it falling into our hands ; bu,t 
very much remains stored, because the blockade has been 
effectual. 

We burned the nitre mills and all government stores, but 
as the town was surrendered, no private property was dis- 
turbed. 

Our headquarters at a country villa a mile from town. 
Magnificent gardens and groves surround the house, and 
beautiful flowers bloom everywhere. The negro cabins, 
barns, stables, cribs and stacks are scattered profusely for 
miles over the land adjoining, and the happy, jolly darkeys 
come in groups to wonder and gaze. This evening our band 
began playing. At the first toot here came the darkeys, all 
ages, sizes and complexions, from a deep black to a light 
saddle-color, swarming with open eyes and mouths, crowd- 
ing along the fences on tip-toe. To-night is a jubilee in 
their cabins. We can hear them dancing, fiddling, singing 
and laughing. They make a curious musical instrument of 
"cane reeds," and the darkey that performs the loudest, is 
the grand mogul of the assembly. 

We are ordered to march to-morrow. 

April i^th. Cowles' plantation. 

Marched at daylight, Second Brigade, First Division, in 
advance. Colonel LaGrange looks natural, and has the same 
determined style of riding. Our regiment and the First 
Wisconsin were at one time brigaded together under Gen- 
eral George E. Waring, and were almost like brothers on 
our raids through Missouri and Arkansas. Met an old friend, 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 651 

now adjutant of the regiment, who tells me there are only a 
few of the old First Wisconsin left. 

The Confederates have been throwing up rail piles and 
brush defenses every few miles ; when our boys come within 
range, they begin firing, and then run and join their com- 
mand ; another party takes their place, and so the thing 
goes. We had five men killed to-day. 

April ijth. Buchannan's plantation. 

Marched at 5 a. m. over some very fine country. Came 
through Tuskeegee, a beautiful town situated up among the 
hills. ' The principal citizens came out and surrendered the 
town, and their good ladies and daughters came thronging 
out to see us and were quite friendly, surprised and thank- 
ful that we did not charge upon them with our sabers, yell- 
ing and swearing, as they expected us to do from all reports. 

The Confederates in our advance are burning bridges 
and piling rails as usual. We saved the most important 
bridges by charging down before they had time to fire 
them. We are camping to-night on a fine plantation owned 
by an old Confederate. Plenty to eat, drink, and make 
merry over. 

Coming in from detached duty with Colonel Benteen, 
the Third Iowa was deployed on the crest of a hill beyond 
which they were skirmishing. Benteen had his leg thrown 
nonchalantly over the pommel of his saddle, sitting like a 
Centaur, heedless of the bullets that cut the bark along side, 
when Captain Morse of the staff came tearing past us down 
the hill, his black, rawboned horse unmanageable, and the 
gallant captain part of the time on his neck and part on the 
crupper, his military cape flapping about his ears, still fur- 
ther frightening the animal he bestrode, like Irving's head- 
less horseman. "Stick to your critter !" Benteen, a true son 
of Missouri, called after him. Then some one in the line 
sang out, "Grab a root ! " which was taken up by the others 
— " Grab a root ! " in all the tones voices are capable of pro- 
ducing, Pete Lunford's high piping treble rising above all 
the rest, " Wait, darling, till your Mummy comes!" as horse 
and rider shot by and disappeared in the bushes. Benteen 
laid back and yelled with laughter. Of course it was against 



652 , THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 

all military discipline, but you see such a thing but once in a 
campaign. 

April i6th. Sunday. Columbus, Ga. 

Marched at daybreak, crossing a bad swamp just after 
leaving camp. Country is poor, broken and covered with a 
dense growth of stunted pine and oak, and we had to cordu- 
roy much of our road to-day. 

Our advance arrived at Crawford at 9:30 a. m. The 
enemy was here encountered, and slowly driven until at 
noon we arrived in sight of Columbus. The advance of the 
division, under command of Colonel Eggleston of the First 
Ohio, immediately charged to the bridge over the Chatta- 
hoochee, with the intention of securing it. General Upton 
and staff followed immediately. We were standing on a 
little knoll, watching the enemy across the bridge, and as 
they did not fire began to think the place was evacuated, 
when in a moment, every gun in Columbus opened on us. 
We were not a quarter of a mile from their forts, and the 
shot and shell came fast and furious. Two of our head- 
quarters horses were killed. One shell struck our chief 
bugler's horse, tearing him all to pieces. Then grape and 
canister, more than ever I want to hear again. More horses 
were killed, but fortunatel}^ none of us. 

The First Ohio was fighting bravely through the streets 
of Girard, but the bridge in their front was fired before they 
reached it. and there was no alternative but to fall back. 

Glass in hand. General Upton stood like *' Patience on a 
monument," scanning their position until satisfied it was 
impossible to attack successfully from that point, then or- 
dered us to withdraw, I did not stand upon the order of my 
going, but got out of there as fast as "Charley" could take 
me. A bridge that spanned a little ravine had been torn away; 
there was no time to think, and my horse took the gap at a 
tremendous leap; but the distance was too great; he caught 
the opposite bank with his fore feet and held until I flung 
myself over his head. My brave "Charley" brought me out 
safely, but I found that he had been wounded by a piece of 
shell that cut a tendon, and it was necessary to kill him and 
thus end his suffering. 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 653 

From a hill, from which I could see every house in Co- 
lumbus, every fort and earthwork, I watched the two armies 
maneuver until it was dark. Columbus is situated on the 
Chattahoochie River, where it flows through a beautiful plain 
at the foot of the mountain. Three bridges span the river ; 
one foot bridge, below the town, crossing from Girard ; an- 
other foot and railroad bridge, entering the main part of the 
city ; and an old forsaken causeway a few miles above the 
town. The lower and upper bridges had been destro3'ed at 
our approach; only the main bridge remained. It was stuffed 
with-cotton, covered with turpentine, ready to be fired, in case 
of our capturing the forts defending it. 

There were two regular forts, with redoubts and rifle pits, 
and abatis protecting them in front and on flank, and in 
front of them a line of earthworks along the lower ridge. 
Forts from across the river had range to these points, and it 
was next to impossible to successfully attack them through 
the valley. 

A dim blue line of hills, as far as the eye can see, encir- 
cles the plain in which the city nestles. 

In the twilight General Upton withdrew the First Brio-. 
ade and Rodney's battery from the line beyond the ridges, 
and marched them, under cover, up beyond the main forts. 

At 9:30 at night the Third Iowa was dismounted, and in 
rear of them the Tenth Missouri was formed, also dismounted, 
and in rear of them the Fourth Iowa, mounted. 

The Third Iowa was ordered forward at a charge, and 
away they went, yelling and shooting down upon the Con- 
federates, who were not expecting an attack from that quar- 
ter or at night, and after a short resistance were driven from 
their first line back to the forts and in among the batteries. 

The Tenth Missouri, supporting the Third Iowa, charged 
over the slashing and abatis, up to the batteries, captured 
them, and charged the flying enemy over the bridge, and in 
the face of the reserves, captured the guns, loaded with grape 
and canister. The charge was so impetuous, and as in the 
night friend and foe could not be told apart, the Confederates 
were panic-stricken and fled in disorder. Then our men 
charged over the bridge into the city. Major General Howell 



654 THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 

Cobb fled with the remnants of his army, and all defense on 
the part of the Confederates ceased by 1 1 o'clock. Columbus 
was ours ! 

A wild exultation seized the soldiers, and I believe our 
division could- have whipped anything in the Confederacy. 

It was grand to see and hear the battle at night — all dark 
except when the scene was illuminated by flashes of the guns 
and glaring brilliancy of volleys from forts and rifle pits. So 
near were our men to the batteries that some were made 
blind by the powder flash. There, Captain Miller of Com- 
pany "D" fell, a shell passing through his side, and he died 
as he said, "like a Christian and a soldier." The Confeder- 
ates held stubbornly to their guns until our boys were in 
among them and forced them to surrender. 

The arsenal, foundries, work-shops, the QtWVLhoTiX Jackson, 
and an immense amount of ammunition were fired. The 
flames from 60,000 bales of cotton blazed up against the 
sky. 

Now that the battle is over, and we have possession of 
the city, strict discipline is enforced. Contrasted with the 
night we took Selma, it seems very quiet. It was nearly 
midnight when we entered the city, and until morning we 
could hear the slow rumbling of ambulances to the hospital, 
where the surgeons were busy. Our headquarters are at 
the " Battle House.'' 

April lyth. Up early and out in the city. The forts are 
full of prisoners. Prisoners and artillery everywhere. 

General Wilson came to congratulate and compliment 
the Fourth Division. This is Upton's fight. Our officers 
think the assault and capture of Columbus a brilliant exhi- 
bition of generalship. One thing is certain. General Upton 
has inspired his men with enthusiasm, and they have confi- 
dence in him. He is quick to see the point of attack, and is 
able on the instant to throw his force with the greatest effect. 
No delay, no dawdling, no mistakes; he strikes quickly and 
surely. He told General Wilson that he could now take his 
division and march through the South in any direction. He 
is not given to boasting, and as a military man, is sure of 
what he says. We are masters of the situation. • 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 655 

Flying columns north and south served to divert Taylor, 
Forrest, Cobb, and the other generals, so they could not con- 
centrate their forces to oppose us, and they have been out- 
generaled from the start. I do not believe there is an army 
in the world that surpasses these divisions, that now march 
in compact, well-balanced columns, men and horses in per- 
fect form; disciplined, well officered, sure of themselves. It 
would be impossible to stampede them, and it would require 
awful carnage to convince them they were not invincible. 

April i8tJi. Lowe's plantation, Georgia, 

Marched at early dawn. First and Second Divisions in 
advance of us. Our division guarding the rear and corps 
train. 

Broken country and a scarcity of water made our march 
necessarily slow, and I had time to stop and chat occasion- 
ally with "ye inhabitants;" the principal question being, 
"What did you-unscome down to fight we-uns for?" "You- 
all" and "we all" prevail like an epidemic. 

The divisions in our front captured and burned a train, 
also captured many prisoners and animals. Cactus fences 
all along the way, bristling up sharp and tough ; they would 
make an excellent abatis. We see an occasional fig tree, and 
many plants and herbs entirely unfamiliar. 

April igth. Double Bridges, Flint River, Georgia. 

Marched early, crossing both forks of Flint River; one 
.forded, the other bridged. Country poor and dusty. An 
orderly bearing dispatches from General Wilson has just 
arrived. He reports: "We took and occupied Macon last 
night. General Howell Cobb has surrendered. We cap- 
tured many prisoners." The men are cheering. It looks 
like the end of the war. 

April 20th. In the pine woods in Georgia. 

We ride and fight all day, hardly stopping long enough 
to eat and sleep. The day's occurrences must be jotted 
down, if at all, by the light of the camp fire. The fellows 
watch me writing, and want to know if I am "making my 
will." I am writing history, I tell them. "Sacred or pro- 
fane?" asks the Major. It might be called profane, I reply. 



656 . THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 

"A «- funny kind of history it will be!" says Lieutenant 

Battin; "Put that in it." 

Who knows, perhaps this road from Waterloo to Macon 
may some day lie before the reader like a map, for things 
are being- done. We have marched over it, at all events, 500 
miles ; have had some rough and tumble service, our horses 
have fallen off very little, and the men are game as fighting 
cocks, and have taught a new lesson in military tactics. The 
cavalry as now armed and maneuvered is not considered 
merely the eyes and flankers for the infantry and artillery, 
but an effective force against the enemy entrenched, and in 
fortified cities. For us the road will always be memorable, 
winding over hills and mountains, through dark forests and 
green valleys, past cotton fields and plantations, with barns 
and clustering cabins, by rich cities, along shores of rivers, and 
by the margin of brooks half hidden in flowers and grasses, 
past quiet villages and hamlets, beneath the bright blue sky 
that bends with magic in it above the Simny South. The 
pity of it is that the road is marked by devastation and 
bloodshed and trampled under the rude feet of War. May- 
hap in history, as long as America shall endure, will live the 
scene where Upton fought his battle in the night, and won 
another ^^tar ; where Wilson, at the head of his cavalry, 
charged a fortified city, a stroke of daring generalship, and 
from the thorn Danger plucked the white flower Victory, 
that all his soldiers wear with him in their hearts ! I hope 
the historian may also say : On this road the army of cav- 
alry marched and put an end to the great Rebellion. 

April 21st. Macon, Georgia. 

Crossed the Ocmulgee River on the railroad bridge, and 
camped in East Macon. The town is full of Confederates, 
all friendly under the armistice agreed upon between Gen- 
erals Sherman and Johnston. 

Mobile, the lavSt Confederate foothold on the coast, has 
fallen. General W^ilson was right in marching on this line 
instead of striking south from Selma. The end is not far off. 

April 22d. Moved our headquarters to a beautiful green 
sward near the old Fair Ground. Our office is in a confis- 
cated tent, with ropes and flies decidedly "cottonish," evi- 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 657 

dently once intended, to hold a batch of Johnnies. A fine 
view of the city is presented from here. The Fifth Iowa 
band came over and serenaded, and a pleasant evening- was 
spent. 

April 3jd. A fire in town last night burned our commis- 
sary and destroyed much of our supplies ; all our coffee is 
gone. 

Macon is a great capture, containing all kinds of military 
stores and an immense amount of cotton. If we confiscated 
all the cotton stored in the South it would pay our war debt. 
Vast quantities of it have been destroyed. 

Johnston's soldiers are coming in, and car-loads of re- 
serves from further South. 

General Upton was discussing with a number of officers 
an incident in one of Napoleon's campaigns, where a cavalry 
force had cut through the infantry and galloped between the 
opposing lines. "What of our discipline?" asked the Gen- 
eral. "If such a thing happened here, what would the 
Fourth Division do?" ''Do/'' said Captain Morse, mindful 
of his own experience, "They'd stand and yell 'Grab a root' 
like a lot of blamed fools!" The General did not join in 
the laugh that followed, but went on to press his question in 
that fine, earnest way he has when discussing military prob- 
lems. 

The rumor has just reached us of the assassination of 
President Lincoln ! We cannot believe it. 

April 2zf.th. News of Lincoln's murder confirmed. It 
comes like a stunning blow. The soldiers loved him, and 
grieve for him as though they had lost a father. 

News of peace unsatisfactory and doubtful. We are here 
to put down the Rebellion, if it takes ten years yet, the men 
say. Andersonvdlle is so near that the war is a reality in- 
deed with us. Many of our men who were prisoners and 
escaped, having been lying out in swamps for months, are 
coming in, starved and naked. 

Generals McCook and Alexander came to our headquar- 
ters to-day. 

April 2jih. Saddled my horse and crossed the Ocmul- 
gee on the pontoon bridge that General Cobb surrendered 



658 • THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 

with the city. Visited the Macon arsenal and other govern- 
ment buildings, and rode about the city. The cars began 
running to-day. General Winslow came over to head- 
quarters bringing his report and eleven battle flags taken 
from the enemy. After he had gone General Upton spoke 
of his efficient service as provost marshal at Selma, saying, 
"Winslow would make a great quartermaster general." 
That sounded strange to me. Had he seen him after Gun- 
town re-form the line, and for three days and nights balk 
Forrest of his victory, holding him at bay with the Third 
and Fourth Iowa Cavalry, and bringing the scattered army 
back to Memphis, he would have left out the quartermaster. 
Winslow has not General Upton's military genius, nor his 
dash, but he is brave and resolute, and can handle a division 
of cavalry as skillfully as any officer in the service. 

Wrote letters to the Department, transmitting flags and 
other captured trophies. One flag, as fine as I ever saw, it 
was said Mrs. Lincoln had presented to the garrison at 
Selma; another, that Tibbetts of Company "I" captured from 
Austin's battery, inscribed with the names of battles of 
Shiloh, Chickamauga and Murfreesboro. Each flag had its 
history. I stacked them all in the corner of the tent think- 
ing if they could speak they would have heroic tales to tell. 
Some of them were almost new, but others were torn and 
tattered, lashed by tempests of shot and shell. The fortunes 
of war have separated them from their brave defenders, and 
there is no one to even tell to whom they belonged. They 
have fought their last fight, and made "unconditional sur- 
render." Never again at the "Reveille" to unfurl in the 
morning light; never at sunset to lower, softly folding upon 
themselves with rustling murmurs to "Retreat." So I put 
them all away gently, reverently, as became a soldier. Laid 
unnoted away, lost to those who loved them, their stillness 
to be forever unbroken, unless mayhap their muffied folds 
should stir and thrill to the softly-blown bugles of memory. 

We are in uncertainty, and can hear nothing from the 
North. 

April 26th. To-day I wrote a lot of movements for a new 
system of infantry tactics. General Upon is now busy study- 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 659 

ing a new line formation, and jotting down notes. I told 
him of a company of militia we saw drill "up thar in Mis- 
soura," when ordering a right wheel, the captain shouted: 
" Break in two and swing reound like a gate, swing reound ! " 
with emphasis on the word of command, which amused him 
greatly. He said it had the advantage of simplicity. 

April 2'jth. Still no communication with the North, save 
through Confederate hands. Everything unsatisfactory. 
Rode over to the city and saw some beautiful houses, one 
the rpost magnificent in the South, parks, lakes, statuary; 
outside of Tempe's Vale, one would hardly expect to see any- 
thing more beautiful. 

April 28th. Everything is chaos here, the most extrava- 
gant rumors prevailing among the citizens ; no reliable news 
of any kind. The suspense is almost unendurable. We are 
reduced to about quarter rations, and no coffee, and nobody 
can "soldier" without coffee. Our clothing is worn out, and 
we nearly all wear Confederate uniforms. It is time the war 
was over. 

April 2gth. Macon, Georgia. 

Rode over to General Winslow's headquarters, making 
quite a little tour through the cit}'. The citizens seem 
friendly and most of the soldiers, though some of them are 
moody and cherish resentment. Pillaged property is to be 
turned over to the provost marshal. It consists of gold, 
silver, and all manner of trinkets. Fortune favors the brave! 
Rummaging in an old storehouse, I found a little bag of 
coffee, a sample lot it must be, bright yellow grains, inclosed 
in wicker, such as fancy baskets are made of. Lun was in 
an ecstacy while roasting and getting it ready to grind. 
"Let it simper slow," he insists, which, doubtless is the true 
method of making coffee. We keep it to ourselves, but as 
you can smell it a mile when the wind sits fair, we are likely 
to be besieged by the whole army. 

April joth. One trait is very noticeable in these Southern 
people, and it sets one a thinking. Certain families in each 
State hold themselves in a kind of superiority above the 
others — an aristocracy of birth ; different from Northerners, 
who think Smith is just as good as Jones, and so is Robin- 



660 THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 

• 

son. I was talking about this with a nice looking old lady, 
who lives just across from our headquarters. She had re- 
turned my military salute with a stately courtesy, and so I 
stopped to chat with her. The kind old soul listened atten- 
tively while I stood at the gate and ran over the names of 
the Georgia boys that I used to know at "Old Hanover." 
They had come North to school, and brought a new charm to 
life with their handsome faces and chivalrous ways. There 
was something captivating about their soft Southern accent. 
They taught us how to swim and shoot and fence, and we 
taught them to skate and play football and "hook water- 
melons." When the war broke out, they all left for home, 
and I had never heard of any of them since. I suppose, I 
said, most of them went into the army. "The boys of the 
best families of the South," she answered, "joined the army." 
Two of the college boys she knew, Eli S. Shorter, of Co- 
lumbus, now an officer in Benning's brigade, and his cousin, 
Fred Wimberley. This afternoon a servant came over, bear- 
ing a tray with a round something, carefully wrapped, and a 
couple of bottles of Scuppernong wine. Lun looked at the 
tray with curious attention, chuckling to himself, as he 
brought out what he called "a noble plum pudding." I 
think I shall enlarge my visiting list! 

Northern papers received, with news of Lincoln's death, 
and the closing scenes of the war. Much dissatisfaction with 
Sherman, because of the armistice with General Johnston. 
We put great confidence in Sherman, and will not believe he 
did other than that he thought just and right. 

May ist. General Grierson has dispatched that his com- 
mand is at Eufaula. General McCook at Tallahassee. Our 
division will probably move to Augusta in a few days. An 
expedition goes down the Savannah River to the ocean. I 
went riding to-day beyond the lines to "Cross Keys," where 
Stoneman fought. 

May 2d. General Long, recovering from his wound re- 
ceived at Selma, has issued a farewell address to his division. 
He is greatly loved by his command. There never was an 
army of better men, or better soldiers than these now break- 
ing up, soon to be lost in civil life. Closely bound by disci- 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 061 

pline, welded together under fire, and working harmoniously 
in a glorious campaign, it is with a feeling of sadness we 
see the end approach. 

May jcL The First Ohio Cavalry moved to Atlanta to 
receive the surrender and garrison that place. Orders came 
from General Grant to-day to garrison all important posts 
in the South. Our divisions are separating, and we all await 
orders. All Confederate soldiers are ordered to go home 
immediately. 

May ^tJi: General Wilson brought to our headquarters 
an official notice, received from Washington at noon to-day, 
and he and Upton are conferring. ''Open questions begin to 
burn like fire ; what to do with the children in orphan 
asylums, the poor people, many of whom are starving; our 
relations to the State Legislatures and local authorities; what 
to do with the railroads; food supplies, cotton, clothing; the 
negroes who have followed us, men, women and children 
afoot, on donkeys, in little carts, in a wild flight for freedom. 

Struck our tents ; our luggage was hauled to the Atlanta 
depot, but for some cause the train did not go, and we were 
ordered back to camp. We are to go to Augusta to-morrow. 

Generals Wilson and Upton parted company in front of 
the tent, Wilson waving his hand as he rode away. They 
have grown very close together in this campaign. I would 
like to know what fortune has in store for them. General 
Wilson, with his restless energy, would seem to be a born 
soldier of fortune, yet amid all conflicting orders he keeps a 
level head, and is as skillful in administration as he is in the 
field. He has fully justified General Grant's estimate of him 
when he placed him in command of this army. 

General Upton is a thorough student of military science, 
and is also a master of the details of military life. He is 
quick to see and use the material at hand to accomplish his 
designs. He has the enthusiasm of youth, but he is not rash; 
Tie has inordinate ambition, but is neither selfish nor cring- 
ing; he believes in himself, yet is neither over-confident nor 
vain. He has fairly won distinction as a soldier; and as a 
soldier, loves his country with passionate devotion. I would 



662 THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 

like to record the wish that his name may always show 
clear and bright on the roll of fame. 

After General Wilson had gone, General Upton looked 
grave. It is rumored that General Grant is to come here. 
The war ending with such suddenness appears to have jolted 
Sherman and Stanton both off their feet. Secretary Stanton 
should have remembered that Sherman was an American, as 
patriotic as himself. Sherman was in command of a great 
army, flushed with victory, and was idolized by his soldiers ; 
then was no time to force insult upon a commander. How- 
ever. General Sherman is too good a soldier and too true a 
patriot to be long affected by it. 

Lee's troops are going through here in all directions, a 
thousand a day, for the past week, and Johnston's men are 
coming in, taking the familiar paths to their homes after long 
years of absence, poorly clad, some on crutches, some with 
empty sleeves, pale-faced from wounds or sickn'ess; the 
anger and bitterness of hate one feels turning into pity, 
when coming back to us in silence, they have no homes to go 
to. I do not wonder that Sherman wanted to give better 
terms than the government at Washington. They have sur- 
rendered, after fighting the thing to the end. That settles 
it. Now they are Americans and we will be friends again. 
Grant says to Lee, " Take your horses and go home, put in a 
new crop and begin again. " That sounds as though Lincoln 
had said it. But there is no good place to begin-: They have 
lost all. We must help them start, and keep them from 
starving. I have seen a number of our fellows give 
them money, take their names and postoffice addresses, 
and heard them say to them, "We will see you through." 
The darkeys have worked the little plantations, some patches 
have been kept cultivated ; but it is a mighty lonesome home- 
coming. We are issuing provisions from our stores, and ra- 
tions of meat from captured Confederate beef -cattle; and 
that is as good as Henry Ward Beecher's beautiful words' 
"Forgiveness and Reconciliation." 

May jth. On the cars for Augusta and Atlanta, Georgia. 

Up early. The Fourth Division marched at daylight. 
Staff officers, after waiting for two hours at the depot, got a 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 665 

train and moved out ; five hundred men from the First Brig- 
ade, and about the same number of returning Confederates 
with us. Three engines to our train. It is queer to see us 
all together. Along the way, the people run to their doors 
to see the Johnnies going home, with their handkerchiefs 
ready to wave, but when they see our blue uniforms, they 
drop them, the cheer of welcome for the returning soldiers 
dies away on their lips, and we pass silently. The road is 
a desolate one ; many soldiers of Lee's army along the way. 
Had a long chat with two boys who were looking for their 
homes ; had served from the beginning in Longstreet's 
corps. Potomac, Shenandoah, Chickahominy, Chickamauga, 
Richmond, are interesting themes in good hands. Near 
West Point we saw two companies of Stoneman's cavalry. 
They say they have captured a courier with this pathetic 
message, dated May 3d, from Jeff Davis to his friend Harri- 
son : "I leave in an hour; if my horse can stand it, I will 
go on rapidly to Washington, Georgia. All their efforts are 
directed for my capture. My family are safest when far- 
thest from me. I have the bitterest disappointment in regard 
to the feeling of our troops. I would not have any one I 
love dependent upon their resistance against an equal force." 

We arrived at Augusta at sundown. City full of Con- 
federates. No Federals were ever here before. In front of 
the Planters' House, in the center of the city, we are great 
curiosities. It seemed to me the whole city was crowding to 
see the Yankees. Major Dee, with his regiment came march- 
ing up and we encamped in the public square. The Gen- 
eral and staff stopped at the Planters' Hotel. 

May yth. A gunboat came from Savannah escorting a 
commissary boat loaded with supplies for us from General 
Sherman. We are not forgotten by him at any rate. 

Rode all over the city sight-seeing. Crossed the river 
into South Carolina, from Hamburg to Aiken, chatting with 
citizens gathered on the street corners to deliberate on the 
approach of the Yankees. A company of Confederates, with 
two pieces of artillery, were guarding the bridge, but I came 
back unchallenged. The soldiers will all abide by General 
Lee's orders. 



664 . THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 

• Colonel Jones arrived with the Third Iowa Cavalry. Gen- 
eral Molineux, of the Nineteenth Corps, will relieve General 
Upton. 

Augusta is a beautiful place, but blissfully ignorant of 
the horrors of war. The Yankees are growing in favor. All 
the churches were opened to-day. Generals Fry, Wright, 
Imboden, Ruggles, Basil Duke, Colonel Breckenridge, Ma- 
jors Bigger and Morgan (John's brother) and a host of other 
Confederate commanders are here. 

Many chats and arguments are kept up between our men 
and the Confederates, for the most part very friendly. Ar- 
senals, foundries, powder-mills and factories, commissary 
and quartermaster stores, and great stores of cotton, in our 
possession. 

May 8th. Augusta. Gold and silver circulating again. 
An auctioneer has been steadily plying his trade across the 
way, and our soldiers and the Confederates intermingle, buy 
cigars and smoke and chat, while the old fellow puffs his 
motley assortment as though he knew his goods were worth 
something. Silver sold at $i,ooo. Confederate, for $i. I 
saw a Confederate lieutenant buy a box of cigars for $500 
Confederate money, his entire pay for the last seven months 
in the army before Richmond. His right arm had been shot 
away in the closing campaign. 

A flag raising at the arsenal. General Upton giving the 
assembly a little impromptu address, and his terse summing 
up of the results of the war was listened to with deep inter- 
est. No one, on the spur of the moment, could have made a 
better speech. I believe it will not be long until Augusta 
follows Savannah by the same road into the Union. 

May gth. Augusta. 

Paroling prisoners all day at the court house and city 
hall. Among the number was General Beauregard. 

Took a stroll down the bank of the Savannah River, 
watching the boats floating along with the tide. It is a fine 
night; a fisherman's beacon fire was flashing out over the 
water and his jolly song echoed around the river bend. 

A reward of $360,000 is offered for the capture of Jeff 
Davis and his companions in flight. We have captured their 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 665 

last trunk line, there are no cars that he can travel on, our 
cavalrymen picket every ford and ferry on both sides of the 
Ocmulgee River, and it is next to impossible for him to escape. 
This is a typical order : 

'^Brigadier General Winslozv, Commanding First Brigade. 

"Keep me informed by courier of the exact movements of 
Jeff Davis, and when you have found the true scent, go for 
him, J. H. Wilson." 

General Vaughn, in command of Jeff Davis's escort, came 
in to make arrangements for the surrender of his forces, 
consisting of Dibrell's two brigades, Ferguson's and Duke's, 
and Butler's division of Wade Hampton's cavalry. They 
started with four thousand men, a hundred boxes of gold, 
and sixty boxes of silver; most of the specie has been dis- 
tributed among the men, many of whom have deserted. 

May loth. On the cars for Atlanta, 9:30 p. M. 

Passing green woods, factories, fields and country villas, 
an occasional farm house with its cluster of negro cabins 
cast its shadow along the landscape, and the lights in the 
windows glitter like fireflies as they flit by. 

Awoke this morning nearing Atlanta. Houses destroyed, 
farms laid waste, burnt ties and twisted rails plainly showed 
Sherman's onward march. Very strong works around the 
city, flanked by numberless lines of rifle pits, protected by che- 
vaux de frise, the most impenetrable one can imagine. Here 
and there are lonely patches of graves dotting the hillside. 

Established headquarters in what was once a dwelling. 
It is pierced by shot and shell in two or three places. I have 
a room upstairs, and sleep under a hole made by a shell that 
had burst, tearing out the side of the chimney. 

Colonel Eggleston, of the First Ohio, had received the 
surrender of the garrison, arms, stores, etc. 

May nth. Atlanta is a ruin, not a business house stand- 
ing, and not a dwelling, except a few marked by shot and 
shell — every tree and shrub about our camp scarred and cut 
into grotesque shapes by bullets. All the region is a battle- 
field ; lines of reddish-yellow clay earthworks, in every shape 



666 THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 

known to military science, stretch away as far as sight can 
reach, and torn into shapeless masses by the heavy guns. 

May i2th. Out riding over the battlefields, among forts 
and rifle pits, wire fences, slashings and unknown obstruc- 
tions, unti-1 both horse and rider were tired out. Dismount- 
ing, I followed the line of an old fence and found a lot of 
fine ripe strawberries, and feasted, while my horse browsed 
in sweet clover. 

A report has been received of the capture of General 
Bragg. Dispatches keep coming in at all times from scout- 
ing parties after Jeff Davis. We think he cannot escape. 

Citizens came over to see us to night. I do not know 
what for, unless to drive away the loneliness. It must be 
miserable living for the people here. They had a hard time 
of it. It does not seem real to hear them tell their stories. 
Bomb-proofs are scattered through the city, in which, during 
the siege, the affrighted people burrowed like prairie dogs. 
They cut bullets out and sold them to buy bread. The citi- 
zens at Griffin are starving. If it were not for our feeding 
them from our stores, this whole country would perish. 

Governor Brown, of Georgia, was brought a prisoner to 
our headquarters to-day, arrested by order of the Secretary 
of War. 

Soldiers from Lee's army are passing continually. They 
are all awfully tired of war. I pity the poor boys. General 
Lee has loyally accepted the results of the war, and the 
armies will follow his example. They have followed him, 
God knows, with unfaltering step, without shoes, without 
blankets or food, grim and gaunt, a skeleton host to the last. 
That ends it. 

Captain McCormick, A. C. M., and Major Bird, A. D. C, 
have joined our headquarters. 

The railroad was completely destroyed when Sherman 
was surrounding Atlanta. Blackened embers and beds of 
ashes show where the piles of railroad ties were fired, and 
the rails at white heat, twined around the trees. The little 
pines and oaks alongside are seared and blackened by the 
process, and many have three or more rails twisted around 
them. 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 667 

The Vice-President of the Confederacy, Alexander H. 
Stephens, in poor health and quite feeble, was brought to 
our headquarters, a prisoner. I vacated my room for him 
and came down stairs, where the gold and silver is stored to 
the amount of half a million dollars, which the Confederates 
confiscated and we captured, besides five thousand dollars in 
gold from the Confederate treasure chest. I feel like a buc- 
caneer or a bold brigand in here with this "unsunned heap" 
of treasure. Captain Gilpin has orders to take the State 
funds and deliver to Governor Brownlow, at Nashville. In 
barrels and boxes, it makes a load for two six-mule teams. 

General Winslow is in charge of all the parties at work 
on rebuilding the railroad to Chattanooga. It is nearly fin- 
ished to Cartersville, and our courier line is established from 
the Chattahoochie. We are to ride out there to-morrow to 
note progress. 

I have listened to-day to Alexander H. Stephens in con- 
versation with General Upton, and to their arguments about 
politics and the reconstruction of the Union. He is a splen- 
did talker, never at a loss for ideas, or fit words in which to 
express them. The line of policy in reconstruction * was the 
main topic. I was impressed with one thing he said, as rub- 
bing his fingers up and down on the back of his hand by way 

of illustration : "Slavery was a sore on the body politic 

constant friction North and South kept it inflamed." He 
told us of his interview with Lincoln and Seward at Fortress 
Monroe. He had a high opinion of Mr. Lincoln, and said 
" His murder was the greatest calamity that ever befell a 
people; especially will it be felt by the people of the South." 
He is a learned man and a deep thinker. While he and the 
General differed widely on many questions, I saw their ad- 
miration was mutual. 

Rode out along the railroad to where our engineer corps 
is bridging the Etowah River. Very few inhabitants in the 
country. Starved out ; the last sheaf of oats gone from the 
barn, the last pound of meal from the kitchen, and in the 
smokehouse the ground has been dug over for the salt that 



*A new word that Mr. Stephens used many times in regard to the seceded 
States. 



668 THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 

had dripped there in curing meat. Passed Marietta — the 
ruins of it — near the base of Kenesaw Mountain, where 
Sherman fought his battle. Many of the killed were left 
unburied, or have been washed out by the rain, for parts of 
skeletons can be seen all about the battlefield. From a dis- 
tance you can see lines of works and rifle-pits ascending the 
rugged mountain, in a winding and tortuous course. I had 
ridden forty-five miles and was tired, but scrambled over 
the rocks and through the scrub pine to the highest peak 
where the fine view of the Blue Ridge range well repaid for 
the rough climb. 

May ijth. Atlanta, Ga. 

Mr. Stephens is still here at our headquarters. This 
morning I walked with him for an hour among the ruins. 
In one place he pointed out, on a half burnt sign hanging 
above a crumbling wall, the name of an old friend of his, 
and continued in a half soliloquy : "I was once a poor boy, 
here on this very spot ; the kind women of Georgia picked 
me up out of the street, and gave me an education. All I 
am, I owe to the people of Georgia. I could not desert my 
State. I loved the Union, but I followed my State." He 
said this with a pathos that went to my heart like a bullet. 
This Vice-President of the Southern Confederacy is no more 
a rebel than I am. 

Captain Armitage came, asking for provisions, especially 
salt, for the citizens in his neighborhood, as they were suf- 
fering for food, saying: "People never forgot those who 
were kind to them in adversity." That sounded like the 
speech of a man. Nothing was said of their having brought 
adversity upon themselves, and nobody thought of alluding 
to it. I believe that nine-tenths of these Southern people 
are glad in their hearts that the national authority has been 
restored. 

Early this morning we sent our mail by courier who 
brought back, among other papers, the farewell address of 
General Forrest to his troops : 

"Gainsville, Alabama, May 9, 1865. 
" Soldiers: — The troops of thisdepartment have been[sur- 
rendered. I do not think it proper to refer to the causes 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 669 

which have reduced us to this extremity. That we are beaten 
is a self evident fact. The cause for which you have braved 
dangers, endured privations and suffering, and made so many 
sacrifices is to-day hopeless. The terms upon which you 
were surrendered are favorable and should be acceptable to 
all. They manifest a spirit of magnanimity and liberality 
on the part of the Federal authorities and should be met on 
our part by faithful compliance. 

"In bidding you farewell, you carry with you my best 
wishes. Without referring in any way to the merits of the 
cause in which we have been engaged, your courage as ex- 
hibited on many hard fought battlefields has elicited the 
respect and admiration of friend and foe. I have never sent 
you on the field where I have been unwilling to go' myself, 
nor do I now advise you to a course which I feel myself un- 
willing to pursue. You have been good soldiers, you can be 
good citizens. Obey the laws, preserve your honor, and the 
government to which you have surrendered can afford to be 
and will be magnanimous. " N. B. Forrest, 

"■Lieutenant GeneraL"^ 

Forrest was our most gallant opponent, whom we have 
fought with varying fortunes for the last three years, through 
Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. He is a born 
leader of cavalrymen, the only man left in the Confederacy 
who need be feared as a guerilla chief. Marmaduke, "Red" 
Jackson and the smaller fry, eould be stamped out inside of 
a month by State troops if they turned to bushwhacking. 
General Sherman's fears are needless, since' Forrest has 
made honorable surrender. There will be no more fighting. 

GENERAL UPTON'S FAREWELL. 

" Before severing his connection with the command, your 
General desires to express his high appreciation of the 
bravery, endurance and soldierly qualities displayed by the 
officers and men of his division. Leaving Chickasaw on the 
22d of March, as a new organization, and without status in 
the Cavalry Corps, you in one month traversed 600 miles, 
crossed six rivers, met and defeated the enemy at Montevallo, 
capturing 100 prisoners, routed Forrest, Buford and Roddy 
in their chosen position at Ebenezer Church, capturing two 
guns and three hundred prisoners, carried the works in your 
front at Selma, capturing thirteen guns, 1,100 prisoners, and 



670 THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 

five battle-fla^s, and finally crowned your success by a night 
assault upon the enemy's entrenchment at Columbus where 
you captured 1,500 prisoners, twenty-four guns, eight battle- 
flasfs, and vast munitions of war. You arrived at Macon, 
Georgia April 21st, having captured on your march 3,000 
prisoners', thirty-nine pieces of artillery and thirteen battle- 
flags. Whether mounted with the saber, or dismounted 
with the carbine, the brave men of the Third, Fourth and 
Fifth Iowa, First and Seventh Ohio and Tenth Missouri 
Cavalry triumphed over the enemy in every conflict. With 
regiments led by brave colonels, and brigades commanded 
with consummate skill and daring, this division, in thirty 
■days has won a reputation unsurpassed in the service. 
Though many of you have not received the reward your 
gallantry has entitled you to, you have received the com- 
mendation of your superior officers, and have won the ad- 
miration and gratitude of your countrymen. 

"You return to your homes with the proud consciousness 
of having defended the flag of your country in the hour of 
the greatest national peril, while through your instrumental- 
ity, liberty and civilization have advanced the greatest stride 
recorded in history. 

"The best wishes of your commanding general will ever 
attend you. "E. Upton, 

'■''Brevet Major General, 
Commanding Fourth Division Cavalry Corps'' 

As soon as the Engineer Corps can finish the bridge at 
the river the different regiments of this command will march 
northward. None of us, I suppose, understand what it is to 
disband a great army. The first regiments preparing to go 
home. The First and Seventh Ohio, and Tenth Missouri, 
have just marched past headquarters and cheered the Gen- 
eral. He made them a little speech. He knows what he 
has fought for, and his clear-cut statement went straight to 
the heads and hearts of his soldiers. In every engagement 
they have seen the result of his strict discipline and constant 
drill. By their side under fire, on the lookout for the chance 
to win, and ready on the instant to dash for it ; and in camp 
always attentive to their comfort and welfare; their enthu- 
siasm has changed into affectionate regard, so that now it is 
with a feeling akin to sorrow that they part. Colonel Ben- 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 



671 



teen, of the Tenth Missouri Cavalry, presented a beautiful 
tribute from his regiment.* 

General Upton has written his official report. A number 
of officers, staff and regimental, are recommended for pro- 
motion for gallantry during the campaign. Most of them, 
however, are thinking more about being mustered out of 




LiBUT.-Coi.. F. W. Benteen, 10th Missouri Cavalry. 

Captain 7th U. S. Cavalry, July 28, 1860; Major 9th U. S. Cavalry, Deceniberl7, 1882; 

Retired July 1, 188S; Died June 22, 1898; Brevet Brigadier General, U. S. A. 



service than of the honors. Camp life has become very 
irksome. 

Here in these days of waiting, came two letters bearing 
the postmark Selma. One, signed Catharine Symmes Mont- 



* It may be of interest to those of our readers who knew Col. Benteen to 
learn that Upton once wrote of him as the most gallant man he had ever seen 
under fire. — Editor. 



672 THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 

ford — heart-broken mother, words and thanks — out of place 
in a soldier's rude journal, that I shall reverently keep, hop- 
ing that time may heal the wounds of a cruel war, and — is 
it too much to hope? — bring the day when North and South 
shall be again united. The other letter — and I may as well 
out with it — if sweet Kate be willing, I shall do my part to- 
ward that happy reunion. She will not give me an answer, 
she says, "until peace is declared." 

This afternoon, taking General Upton's farewell order 
with me, I went over to the camp of the Third Iowa, to bid 
my old company good-bye. It was not a pleasant thing to 
do. Lieutenant Battin and the boys were gathered about 
the improvised tents. George Weiney making an attempt 
to sing, "The Lady I Love Will Soon be a Bride," and much 
more to the same effect ; but I thought it did not go off very 
well. It is very plain that they are all impatient at the de- 
lay of orders to be mustered out. Colonel — General Noble 
it is now, is as proud of his old regiment as he well can be. 
Of the two thousand two hundred and fifty men who 
have been members of the Third Iowa Cavalry, only a few 
comparatively remain to enjoy the welcome home. Not one 
of the number has brought dishonor to the flag under which 
we fought. This narrative would be incomplete if it failed 
to record the name of Rev. Jas. W. Latham, the faithful 
chaplain of the regiment. I do not know to what church he 
belonged, but he has looked after the sick and wounded, 
consoled the dying and composed for burial the dead. He 
knows where our boys fell, and their friends may be assured 
that their resting-places were hallowed by his prayers. 

It is not easy to sever the ties that for four long years of 
hardship, danger, excitement and delight of soldier life, have 
bound us together. We had talked of the old days, and 
had called up many incidents of our campaigns, and the time 
had come to go. My foot was in the stirrup — no more " Pre- 
pare to mount!" No more "Boots and saddles!" The 
thought came almost with the sharpness of a saber thrust. 
"Good-bye, boys ! Good-bye! Good-bye!" 

At headquarters General Upton and Major Latta have 
just come in with the word of the capture of Jeff Davis. He 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 673 

will be brought here. General Wilson has issued a congrat- 
ulatory order to the army. A salute of 200 guns will be fired 
to-morrow morning at sunrise to announce that "Peace is 

DECLARED." 

THE LAST NIGHT IN CAMP. 

I had walked beyond headquarters till I could dimly see 
the long lines of tents stretching away to the north. A 
boyish tenor voice somewhere was singing : 

"We are tenting to-night on the old camp ground, 
Give us a song to chesr." 

I knew well their thoughts were turning. When the song 
ceased, all was still. The sky, down to the horizon line, was 
crowded so thickly with stars that one could hardly trace 
"The Dipper." George McCallum came out of his tent to 
sound "Taps." I stopped to listen. Perhaps he too was 
thinking it was his last good-night bugle call. The notes 
rose and fell, and repeated themselves in plaintive echoes 
among the hills, and floating on until, in other echoes still 
fainter and more tremulous, they lost themselves among the 
stars. Bards have gone from the world. Only the musician 
now has the subtle power to bind as with a spell the hearts 
of an army of men ; and to-night it may be, touched by that 
call, their thoughts and feelings attuned to harmony, arose 
even beyond the stars. Good-night ! 

May iph. Atlanta, Georgia. 

I was awakened at 3 a. m. with the word that Mr, Davis 
had arrived. The shrill whistle brought every one within 
hearing down pell mell to the railroad depot. General 
Upton and one of his staff officers were to accompany the 
train to Augusta. The soldiers detailed as additional guards 
were building their fires from the debris of the fallen build- 
ings, throwing on half-burnt signs, door-posts, and window 
frames, and the blaze showed little knots of them along the 
railroad track, looking expectantly toward the cars. As soon 
as the train stopped we went in. The car was full. Mr. 
Davis and his wife were in the third seat ; next back of them 
Clay and his wife ; then Postmaster General Reagan, Colonels 



674 THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 

Johnston and Lubbock, aides; Colonel Harrison, private sec- 
retary; Mrs. Davis's three children and her brother and sister; 
Lieutenant Hathaway, and others whose names I did not 
learn, and a number of colored servants. A detachment of 
the Fourth Michigan Cavalry under Colonel Pritchard, who 
had captured the party, guarded them. 

They were captured in Southern Georgia, making their 
way to the Florida coast. They had a little camp, two tents 
along side of the wagon, in the pine woods a mile from 
Irwinsville, and were asleep, when our cavalry dashed in on 
them. 

When Colonel Pritchard came up, Mr. Davis was furious. 
"I suppose you consider this a capture," he exclaimed. 
"Yes," replied the Colonel. "It is not, it is a //;<//'.'' You 
make war on women and children!" Colonel Pritchard then 
said, " Mr. Davis, you must remember you are a prisoner." 

The car lamp shone full in his face, and at last I had the 
satisfaction of seeing the captured Confederate chief. An 
erect figure, with a somewhat martial bearing, brown hair 
turning gray, a keen strong face with a pallor in it. smooth 
shaven to below the chin, a look of sorrow about the lines of 
the firm- set mouth, a high pale forehead sharply defined 
above cold gray eyes that repelled sympathy. 

When the train moved off, quite a crowd of both Fed- 
eral and Confederate soldiers had gathered. Mr. Davis was 
standing at the car window, with a cold flinty look in his 
eyes as they rested unmoved on the distant hills, a long 
irregular line of earthworks, just growing visible in the 
dawn. Vice-PrCvSident Stephens begged General L^pton to 
let him go North in a separate car; there was bitter feeling 
between them. Governor Brown had no respect for him, he 
told us, and for a year had opposed his measures. Howell 
Cobb felt contempt for his government, the disgrace of its 
termination, and its tyranny while in force, saying it was a 
relief to him to have a restoration of the national authority. 
Both Generals Johnston and Beauregard distrusted as well as 
feared him, and refused further allegiance. General Lee 
had remained true to him to the last, about the only one, 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 675 

as we learned from the officers when we paroled them. 
With Lee's surrender, he became a fugitive. 

On my way back to headquarters the deserted fires were 
casting shadows that seemed to stalk like gigantic specters 
along the walls, over tumbled and charred roofs and fallen 
chimneys, and I realized that I had seen the end. The cause 
was lost ! 

The sun was rising bright above the trenches beyond the 
deserted battle ground as Rodney's battery came at a trot 
down what had once been a street, swung its guns into posi- 
tion and began firing a national salute. 

With the roar of guns our flag rose to the top of the staff, 
unfolding all the stars and stripes as it caught the breezes. 

The last campaign was ended. 



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